WO2001032825A1

WO2001032825A1 - Tapered or straight-walled flat-bottomed dryer-safe bags

Info

Publication number: WO2001032825A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/029860
Authority: WO
Inventors: James A. Smith
Original assignee: Custom Cleaner, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-11-01
Filing date: 2000-10-31
Publication date: 2001-05-10

Abstract

The invention relates to devices, especially bags, which include tapered or straight-walled, flat-bottomed configurations. These devices are particularly useful in fabric-treatment systems for containment and treating or freshening of one or more fabric articles in conditions of heat and tumbling in a rotary clothes dryer.

Description

TAPERED OR STRAIGHT-WALLED FLAT- BOTTOMED DRYER-SAFE BAGS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices that are generally tapered in shape with a flat bottom, for use in cleaning, freshening or otherwise treating fabπc or fabπc articles The devices generally are in the form of a bag, and are preferably used in fabπc-treatment systems for containment of fabπc articles to be treated in conditions of heat and tumbling in a rotary clothes dryer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Methods for dry-cleaning fabπcs commonly employ organic soh ents which can readily dissolve or disperse soils such as water-insoluble substances, including greases, oily dirts and the like, and which exhibit low soh ent boiling points, enabling easy recovery of the solvents

The use of solvent-based dry-cleaning methods has been pπmaπly limited to commercial cleaning operations that employ expensive specialized equipment Such equipment includes stills with condensers to contain vapors from the cleaning solvents, which are often toxic As a result, to utilize such dry-cleanmg processes, particularly to remove water-msoluble spots and/or stains from clothes, the user must bπng the clothes to a specialized dry-cleanmg establishment and pick up the cleaned clothes at a later date This results in inconvenient expenditures of time in going to the dry-cleaner, waiting for the clothes to be properly cleaned, picking up the clothes, and dealing with damaged and lost articles of clothing Moreover, articles of clothing and fabnc items from many different sources are dry-cleaned v, ith the same batch of solvent, which can result m malodorous residues

Methods are available for consumers to dry-clean their clothing at home m a rotary hot air dryer In one such process, soiled fabπc articles are placed in a plastic or nylon bag with an added sheet coated with a cleaning/freshening composition. The bag is closed and placed in a dryer where it is tumbled at elevated temperatures for a period of time, so that the cleaning/freshening composition acts to clean or freshen the clothing. The bags used in these at-home methods for cleaning/freshening clothing do not have shapes that conform to a typical dryer drum. In addition, they are not able to stand upright when placed on a flat surface, and typically the user must hold the bag in one hand while loading the clothes into it with the other hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a novel bag configurations which are uniquely adapted for use within a rotary hot air dryer. The bags have various embodiments, which are described below, but all have a planar (flat) bottom. It is preferred that the bottom is circular in shape, and that the bag comprises a material that is not substantially damaged at elevated temperatures (such as those inside a rotary clothes dryer during operation). The bag defines an opening and preferably has a fastening system for closing the opening. In o some embodiments, the bag has a tapered body, where the top portion of the bag is narrower than the bottom portion. In other embodiments, the bag is not tapered but has straight walls that are substantially perpendicular to the flat bottom, and the top portion is substantially the same width and diameter as the bottom portion. 5 In one preferred embodiment utilizing the bags, the invention relates to fabric-treatment systems adapted for cleaning freshening and/or treating all types of fabric articles, even including delicate fabric articles (such as, for instance, 100% acetate, 100% silk, 100% rayon and blends of these fabrics). The fabric-treatment system is particularly useful to contain and treat one or o more fabric articles in conditions of heat and tumbling in a rotary clothes dryer This is earned out, for example, by enclosing the fabπc articles m a tapered flat-bottomed bag together with a cleaning/freshening composition

The bags of this invention are advantageous m that they provide a dryer-safe device that is able to stand upπght when placed on a flat surface (such as a floor), which permits easy filling or loading (such as, for instance, with fabπc articles) Thus, the user need not use both hands to load the bag with fabnc articles. In addition, when the bag bottom is circular, it provides a shape that generally conforms to a typical dryer drum That is the bag may be placed m the dryer so that the flat, round bottom is adjacent to the circular back of the dryer drum, and consequently, the bag spins easih with minimized bouncing and the fabnc articles are tumbled quite effectivel) This may decrease the time needed for the clothes to be cleaned or freshened Optionally, moisture-releasing means, vents and/or valves

be incorporated into the bags to facilitate exhausting odors, vapor and pressure from withm the bag, or to permit air to flow into the bag

Additional advantages of the vanous embodiments of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following discussion

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tapered dryer-safe bag, having a rounded planar bottom and a cyhndπcal body

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a dryer-safe bag having a rounded bottom and a cyhndπcal body, which includes optional vents

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a vent

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tapered dryer-safe bag, having a rectangular bottom and defined side panels

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a dryer-safe bag having a rounded bottom and a cyhndncal body, which includes gusset means DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention, including the above-described embodiments and various versions thereof, is more fully described in the following detailed discussion.

A. Straight- Walled or Tapered Flat-Bottomed Bags

In all of the embodiments of this invention, the bags have (1) an opening, (2) a substantially planar (or flat) bottom portion, and (3) a body that is either straight- walled or tapered.. The bags may be constructed of any suitable material, but preferably comprise a material that is not substantially damaged at temperatures inside a rotary clothes dryer during operation. Preferably, the bags have a fastening system for closing the opening. In a first embodiment, the bag has a tapered body and a generally circular planar bottom, such as a round shape, an oval shape, or the like. The body may be cylindrical (or without defined sides) and tapered, so that the bag in general is in the shape of a cone. (See, for example, Figure 1). Alternatively, the body may be tapered and comprised of defined panels, each defining a side of the bag, and each connected at their bottom edges to the planar bottom. (See, for example, Figure 4).

For instance, the bag is constructed to have a generally planar rounded bottom with outside edges, where the diameter of the bottom is greater than the width of the opening at the top. In this configuration, the body tapers from the wider bottom to the narrower top, and may form a pyramid or cone shape.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the bag 1 may include a generally planar bottom 26 with outside edges 22, which planar bottom has a diameter d. The planar bottom shown is rounded, but someone having ordinary skill in this art would understand that the bottom may be in any desired shape. A body 20 is attached to the outside edges 22 of the planar bottom 26, and has a body top portion 24. The top portion 24 defines an opening, which the top portion 24 has a width . The diameter d is greater than the width w, and the body 20 tapers from the planar bottom 26 to the body top portion 24. Preferably, a fastening system 3 closes the opening defined by the body top 24. The top portion 24 may first be folded before fastening the fastening system. Preferably, the bag is able to stand upright on a flat surface.

In a second embodiment, the body is tapered and the bottom portion has a generally square or rectangular shape, with defined comers. For instance, as shown in Figure 4 the planar bottom portion 26 has a generally rectangular shape, with defined comers and an opening 30. The body 20 of the bag may comprise a front panel 28 and a back panel 29, and two side panels 27, each having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges. The bottom portion may connect the all the panels at the bottom edges. An optional top portion (not shown) may connect the front panel and the back panel at the top edges. In this configuration, the bag is pyramidal in shape.

In a third embodiment, the bag has a straight, non-tapered body and a generally circular planar bottom, such as a round shape, an oval shape, or the like. The body may be cylindrical (or without defined sides) and substantially perpendicular to the planar bottom, so that the bag in general is in the shape of a can. Alternatively, the body may include defined panels, each defining a side of the bag, and each connected at their bottom edges to the rounded planar bottom.

In a fourth embodiment, the body is straight-walled with defined sides and the bottom portion has a generally square or rectangular shape, with defined comers. For instance, the planar bottom portion may have a generally rectangular shape, with defined comers. The body may comprise a front panel and a back panel, and two side panels, each having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges. The bottom portion may connect the all the panels at the bottom edges. An optional top portion may connect the front panel and the back panel at the top edges. In this configuration, the bag is generally shaped like a rectangular or square box

Preferably, the bags are foldable to permit the bag to be stored m a flat configuration The bottom edges of the body may also be connected to each other and to the planar bottom by glue or any other known means The opening in the body may be closed by engaging the fastening system, or simply by folding the bag at that area. Of course, the bag may include any type of known fastening system, or may have none at all, depending on the desired end-use For example, the bag's closure mechanism may include press-studs, a zipper, hook and loop, magnetic stnps, Velcro®, folds, snaps, buttons, a latch and/or a Ziplock® fastener Further, the opening need not necessaπly be at the top of the bag, but may be anywhere m the sides of the bag, and of any design The bottom edges and the side edges of the bag may be connected by folding, heat sealing, gluing, a combination of these, or an> means known m the art In one particular embodiment, the opening in the bags may be closed by a hook and loop fastening system, such as Velcro®, where the hook and loop portions are attached to the bag via glue A disadvantage of the glue- applied fastening systems is that the glue may melt in high-temperature dryers and leave undesirable residues on the walls of the dryer drum Alternatively, the hook and loop portions are attached to the bag via heat-sealmg A further option is to form the hook portion as part of the bag itself, where the hook is formed of the same or similar mateπal as the bag (e g, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, etc ) when the bag is produced The portion of the bag compπsing the hook system may be made of a heavier gauge than the rest of the bag, and therefore is less flexible, which may permit the fastening system to be conveniently fastened by the user in virtually the same position for every use One advantage of both heat-sealed hook and loop systems, and systems using a hook formed as part of the bag, is that these systems withstand high temperatures without melting or breakdown In another embodiment, the opening of the bag is sealed pnor to use, and is conveniently opened by the user via a tear strip or other mechanism. The bag may also include a fastening system, such as any described above, so that the bag may be reversably fastened shut when in use. This tear strip embodiment is particularly useful if it is desirable that the bags are vapor-impermeable prior to use, such as during storage (for instance, where the interior surface of the bag contains a composition, such as described below).

In an additional embodiment, the bags may be formed of a polypropylene capable of resisting melting at high temperatures (for instance, up to about 324°F). For instance, such polypropylene materials are available from Copol, Inc. (Nova Scotia, Canada).

These bags are exceptionally strong, and are preferably formed by cast filming so as to produce bags that are smooth and shiny.

Another advantage of bags formed of this material is they may be heat-sealed. Thus, a three-sided, heat-sealed bag can be easily produced in a cost-efficient manner. Preferably, the bags are about

3.5 mils thick, which imparts high heat resistance.

In another embodiment, the bag has a planar bottom and a tapered or non-tapered body, as well as at least one gusset means be on any of the sides, o top or bottom of the bag. The gusset means is an insert that expands to increase the internal volume of the bag. It may be of any size, although the larger the gusset the more it will expand and increase the internal volume of the bag. For instance, the body of the bag may comprise a front panel and a back panel, each having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges. The 5 bottom portion may connect the front panel and the back panel at the bottom edges. An optional top portion may connect the front panel and the back panel at the top edges. One of the panels, the top portion or the bottom portion may include a gusset means. For instance, in Figure 5, the bag includes a rounded bottom 9 with outside edges 22, wherein the bottom has a diameter d. A body 0 20 is attached to the outside edges 22 of the bottom 9, and the body 20 has a top portion 24 which defines an opening. The top portion 24 has a width w. The diameter d is greater than the width w. The body 20 tapers from the bottom 9 to the top portion 24. Preferably, a fastening system 3 closes the opening defined by the top portion 24. The gusseted side panels 7 are pinched together at or near their connection at the top portion 24 or the bottom 9. The top portion 24 may first be folded before fastening the fastening system where the optional gusseted side panels 7 are pinched together at or near their connection at the body top 24 or the bottom 9. The opening may be anywhere desired, and is preferably near the top of the bag, or in place of the top portion. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the bag has at least two gussets on at least two opposing walls. The gussets may be formed to function as accordion folds in the bag material. Preferably, in the folded state the bag lays flat for convenient storage and packaging. During use, the bag is expanded via the gussets. When used in the fabric-treatment system embodiments, the expanded bag permits improved tumbling of the clothes within because of increased space. This facilitates cleaning, freshening, drying and assists in tumbling so that the articles of clothing do not come out wrinkled from the bag after processing. Because of the gussets, a larger bag can be packaged and stored in a smaller container or space. o For instance, the bag may comprise a front panel and a back panel, a bottom portion and an optional top portion. Opposite gussetted side panels may connect the front panel to the back panel at the side edges. Preferably, the gussetted side panels are expandable (for instance, to permit the bag to hold a plurality of fabric articles) and foldable to permit the bag to be stored in a flat 5 configuration and/or to tumble easily within a rotary dryer. The bottom portion connects the front panel and the back panel at the bottom edges. An optional top portion may connect the front panel and the back panel at the top edges. The opening may be anywhere desired, and is preferably near the top of the bag, or in place of the top portion. For instance, the bag may be generally o box-shaped or generally pillow-shaped when the gusset means is expanded. Additionally, or in the alternative, the gussets may be included in one or both of the top and bottom portions. In general, the more and larger the gussets, the more the bag will be able to be expandable.

In all the above embodiments, the bags may have vents, valves or other moisture releasing means for permitting ingress and/or egress of air, moisture and/or vapors.

To that end, in another embodiment the bags of the invention can include at least one moisture releasing means which permits moisture, air and vapor to flow in or out through the interior and exterior surfaces of the bag, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The moisture releasing means may be found anywhere on the bag (including the sides, the top portion, bottom portion, etc.), and may take any convenient form, such as vents, pores, slits, holes, and the like. For instance, vents may be conveniently formed near the fastening system, or be a part of the fastening system. For example, the fastening system may be designed so that air or moisture may pass in or out of the bag around the outer edges of the fastening system. In the alternative, these bags release moisture via separate fitment or valve which is suitable for releasing vapor from one direction only— either in or out depending on the use of the bag. In one form of this embodiment, Figures 2 and 3 show a bag that includes at least one vent 2 which permits moisture, air, vapor, odor and pressure to flow in and/or out through the surfaces of the bag. The vent 2 may be in a variety of forms, pores, slits, holes, and the like. As shown in Figure 3, the vent may be in the shape of a half moon with a complementary flap 2a.

For example, in certain of the fabric-treatment systems described below, the bags of this embodiment are particularly useful for generally treating, and especially softening damp or wet fabric articles, where the moisture-releasing means serve to facilitate exhausting humidity, odors, vapors, etc. from the bag as it tumbles in the heated dryer. In one specific embodiment, if clothing has been washed and the user desires to treat/soften selected pieces of the washed clothing, the fabric-treatment composition is placed in the bag along with the selected wet clothing, and the bag is closed and tumbled with the rest of the wet clothing (which is outside the bag, in the dryer) under conditions of heat. Preferably, the moisture-releasing design will allow the clothing in the bag to dry as it tumbles without treating the clothing outside the bag.

Another optional embodiment for the bag is that at least a portion of the interior surface of the bag is formed of an absorptive material. For this embodiment, the bag may be formed as above, except that it has an interior absorptive layer portion. Preferably, the innermost layer will be a reticulated plastic film formed in situ, a solid granular or porous absorbent solid filled plastic film or a combination of both foamed and solids loaded plastic. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, diatomacious earth-filled polyethylene, polypropylene, activated carbon, hydrophilic urethane, non-hydrophilic urethane, fiberglass, glass balls, and other solid absorbents dispersed in film.

In this embodiment, the bag is optionally formed in two steps. The outer layer of the bag is pre-formed and an absorptive material subsequently attached to the inside surface of the bag in a second step.

Non-woven cloth materials useful in the present invention to form the absorbent interior surface of the bag may be generally adhesively or thermally bonded fibrous products laving a web or corded fiber structure, or those which comprise fibrous mats in which the fibers are distributed haphazardly or in a random array. The fibers can be natural, such as wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, or ramie; or synthetic such as rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides or polyesters. Generally, any diameter or demier of fiber is useful in the present invention. The non-woven cloth materials are preferably not prone to tear or separate when used, for example, in an automatic dryer, due to the haphazard or random array of fibers in the non- woven material which impart excellent strength in all directions. Some examples of preferred non-woven cloth material useful as substrates in the present invention include 100% rayon sheets, available as described above.

The interior absorptive portion of the bag may be rendered suitably absorptive by a number of means. For example, the bag may have one or more multiple layers of substrate, the innermost film being absorptive, i.e., a reticulated plastic foam, a solid granular or porous absorbent solid filled plastic film or a combination of both foamed and solids loaded plastic.

All of the bag embodiments of the invention may be formed from any flexible material. Preferably, however, the bag is made of a heat-resistant dryer-safe material so that it substantially maintains its shape and integrity, especially when used in the fabric-treatment embodiments described below. In addition, it is preferred that the bag will not substantially be damaged upon exposure to conditions including a temperature effective to cause release of the fabric-substrate composition from the substrate, fabric, etc. (which is described in more detail below). Preferably, the bag can resist "hot spots" within the dryer, where the temperature may reach as high as about 200°C.

To that end, it is preferred that the bag is formed from non-porous plastic film, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide (such as nylon), and blends of these or other materials. Nylon is particularly useful in increasing heat resistance of the bag. However, the bag may be formed of other materials, including cloth, paper, or a multiple or layered complex comprising such materials. In a prefened embodiment, the bag of the present invention is formed by the co-extrusion of materials with the desired properties. For the material making up the bag, one prefened polyethylene is polyethylene terephthalate. In one prefened embodiment, the bag is made up of at least one layer of polyethylene terephthalate and at least one layer of polyester. The bag may be constructed using any methods known in the art. For instance, the bag may be constructed so that at least one seam is placed on at least one side (also called a side-seam bag). Optionally, the bag may be co-extruded into a tubular shape (or other desired shape). Multiple tubular layers may also be formed. The bags may be made with any materials suitable for the end-purpose desired. For instance, in one embodiment, the material making up the bag includes a substrate layer, a polymer layer and a metal and/or silica layer. In general, the metal and/or silica is in the form of a layer and is applied to the substrate layer using any means known in the art (such as, for instance, by coating, lamination, vapor deposition, etc.). Either or both of the exterior (outside) surface and interior (inside) surface may include the metal and/or silica layer. It is not necessary that the entire exterior or interior surface be metalized (or silica-coated). Furthermore, in variations of this embodiment only a portion of the interior and/or exterior surface is metalized (or silica-coated). For instance, the metalization (or silica coating) may take the form of strips, dots, and the like, which are applied to the surfaces by any means known in the art. Alternatively, a metal and/or silica layer may be included as a third layer, between the interior and exterior layers within the walls of the bag. Preferably, the metallic layer has a thickness between about 300 Angstroms and about 500 Angstroms, but is preferably not thicker than about 1 ml. However, the metallic layer may be of any thickness, according to the end-use, and may even be applied in a multi-ply manner which may further increase thickness. In another embodiment, the bags may be formed of a substrate material, such as non- woven cloth, woven cloth or paper, where at least one of the interior or exterior surface of the bag is wholly or partially coated, laminated, filmed or layered with a polymer material. Alternatively, a polymer layer may be included as a third layer, between the interior and exterior layers within the walls of the bag. The substrate may be any material that supports the polymer, and may even be a material that by itself is flammable or melts in elevated temperatures (such as the temperatures reached in a dryer). In fact, one of the advantages of this embodiment is that materials generally thought to be unusable for exposure to high temperatures can now be made useful for that purpose. For example, suitable materials for forming the substrate include, but are not limited to, non-woven fabric, woven fabric, paper, or a multiple or layered complex comprising such materials. For instance, the fabric non- woven paper may include one or more generally adhesively or thermally bonded fibrous products having a web or corded fiber structure, or those which comprise fibrous mats in which the fibers are distributed haphazardly or in a random array. Woven fabrics may include, but are not limited to, one or more of polyester, cotton, linen, denim, wool, acetate, fleece, blends of fabric, and the like. The non-woven fabric fibers can be natural, such as wool, silk, jute, o hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, or ramie; or synthetic such as rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides or polyesters. Generally, any diameter or demier of fiber is useful as a substrate. Preferably, non-woven cloth materials are chosen which do not tend to tear or separate when used, for example, in an automatic dryer. Particularly useful non-woven cloths are 5 those that have higher tensile strength due to the haphazard or random anay of fibers in the material imparting strength in all directions. Suitable paper substrates may include one or more of the following: brown paper, acid free paper, white or colored paper, recycled paper, cardboard, and the like.

The polymer may be water-based or solvent-based. Suitable polymers o include, but are not limited to, polyurethanes, vinyl acetates, acrylics, acrylic copolymers, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinylidine dichlorides, polyesters, epoxy resins, melamine formaldehydes, styrene butadines, blends of these materials, and the like. Furthermore, the polymer may be filled with a variety of materials, as desired, such as inorganic materials, diatomacious earth, carbon blacks, silicas, fibers, and the like. In addition, a plastic lamination may be quite useful, such as, for instance, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, or mixtures thereof. Combinations of these materials may also be used to form the substrate. The fabric and paper bags may be constructed using conventional means, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,473,422 and 5,271,998.

Preferably the polymer layer is between about 12 microns and about 50 microns in thickness, although it may be of any thickness, or be applied in layers, according to the desired end-use. The polymer may be applied to the substrate using layer using any means known in the art (such as, for instance, by coating, lamination, vapor deposition, etc.). Where the device is in the form of a bag, either or both of the exterior (outside) surface and interior (inside) surface may include the polymer layer. It is not necessary that the entire exterior or interior surface be covered with the polymer layer, although this may be preferred in certain embodiments of the invention. The invention o also includes polymer-layered devices where only a portion of the interior and/or exterior surface is covered. For instance, the polymer may be applied to strips of the substrate, or as dots or the like, by any means known in the art.

Preferably the bags suitable for use in the present invention will have dimensions ranging from about 18" x 23" up to about 36" x 5 40". The most prefened size of bag for use in the present invention range is from about 20" x 28" to about 26" x 38". These dimensions preferably result in the bag having a surface area in the range of about

1120 in², and most preferably from about 1120 in² to about 1560 in².

The bags may also be sufficiently small (such as, for example, for o containment of a single soiled fabric article or several small fabric articles), with dimensions ranging from about 18" x 22" up to about 20" x 26", and preferably 20" x 24".

B. Methods of Use of the Flat-Bottomed Bags

One utilization of the bag devices is via fabric-treatment systems for dry-cleaning, freshening or otherwise treating fabric articles. The term "fabrics" or "fabric articles" encompasses not only clothing, but any other textile items which are commonly dry-cleaned or treated, including sheets, draperies, rugs, upholstery coverings, towels and the like. For this invention, the term "fabrics" also can include wool, wool blends, linen, cotton, knits, double-knits, polyester, twill, synthetics, etc., as well as delicate fabrics, such as 100% acetate, silk, rayon and blends of these fabrics. The bag and fabric-treatment systems can accommodate fabrics that are in a wet, moist, or dry state.

As used herein with respect to the fabrics to be dry-cleaned, freshened or otherwise treated, the term "soil" includes odoriferous compounds such as tobacco smoke, residue, perfume, mustiness, perspiration and the like, as well as visible spots and stains.

Therefore, as used herein, the term "treating" or "treatment" encompasses any chemical treatment of fabric, including but not limited to dry-cleaning and freshening. The term "freshen" includes the removal, deodorizing, chemical neutralizing and/or masking of odoriferous compounds on or within a fabric with a desirable scent. As used herein, the term "dry cleaning" or "cleaning" includes the removal of both kinds of "soil".

As used herein, the term "dryer" refers to a rotary hot air dryer, which tumbles the clothes in a drum with warm or heated air at an elevated temperature. The temperature within is usually between about 40°C and about 95°C, although the temperature may reach as high as about 200°C at points within the dryer, especially at the walls of the dryer unit and near the hot air inlet (often refened to as "hot spots" within the dryer). These higher temperatures are also characteristic of industrial dryers or Laundromat dryers. Preferably, however, the temperature within the dryer will be between about 50°C and about 90°C, for preselected periods of time (preferably, between about 15 and about 45 minutes).

The fabric-treatment systems contemplated comprise at least two components: (a) a fabric-treatment composition, and (b) a flat- bottomed bag such as one described above. In general, the bag defines an opening and includes a substantially flat bottom portion, and a body portion having a top portion. In most embodiments, the opening preferably makes up the top of the body portion. As described above, the body portion has tapering sides or walls, so that the top portion is nanower than the planar bottom. Alternatively, the body portion may have sides or walls that are substantially perpendicular to the planar bottom. In any of these embodiments, the body portion may be cylindrical in shape, or may include definable sides or walls. Preferably there is a fastening system for closing the opening.

One of the advantages of the bags of these fabric-treatment embodiments is that they are able to stand upright when placed on a flat surface (such as a floor), which permits easy filling or loading of fabric articles. Further, when the bag bottom is circular, it provides a shape that generally conforms to a typical dryer dmm. That is, the round-bottomed bag may be placed in the dryer so that the bottom is adjacent to the rounded back of the dryer dmm, and consequently, the bag spins easily with minimized bouncing and the fabric articles may be tumbled effectively within. This improvement in ease of spinning may also decrease the time needed for the clothes to be cleaned or freshened, and the articles of clothing often do not come out wrinkled from the bag after processing. Furthermore, with certain embodiments (especially the gusseted embodiments), more articles are able to fit into these bags, and consequently they may save time and cost. The bags are also convenient to store and package.

For use with the fabric-treatment systems, it is prefened that the bags exhibit sufficient thermal stability for use in the rotary hot air dryer. In addition, it is preferred that the containment bag will not be substantially damaged upon exposure to conditions including a temperature effective to cause release of the fabric-treatment composition from the substrate, fabric, etc. Preferably, the bag can resist "hot spots" within the dryer, where the temperature may reach as high as about 200°C.

In one fabric-treatment system embodiment, an effective amount of the fabric-treatment composition contacts the soiled fabric (or fabrics) and treats it chemically. The composition contacts soiled, spotted and/or stained portions of fabric therein and removes or decreases the soil, spots and/or stains. In addition to, or in the alternative, the composition contacts the fabric and freshens it. o Preferably, the fabric-treatment compositions are effective when subjected to heat. Therefore, in one prefened practice of this embodiment, the soiled fabric (or fabrics) is added to the bag along with an effective amount of at least one fabric-treatment composition, and the bag is subjected to agitation and heat effective to release the 5 composition in liquid and/or in vaporous form from the substrate, vehicle, fabric, interior absorptive surface of the bag, etc., on which the composition is present in the bag. The composition in liquid and/or vaporous form contacts the fabric article and treats it. Moreover, the composition contacts spotted and/or stained portions of o fabric therein and cleans, removes or decreases the spots and/or stains. In addition to, or in the alternative, the composition contacts the fabric and freshens it.

The bag of the present invention can be placed in a rotary hot air clothes dryer to provide the effective amount of heat and agitation, or tumbling. Thus, in another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for cleaning and/or freshening soiled fabric articles comprising (a) placing a soiled fabric article (i.e., spotted, stained and/or in need of freshening) in a flat-bottomed bag along with a fabric-treatment composition; (b) closing the bag; and (c) tumbling the bag and its contents in a dryer at a temperature effective to release the fabric-treatment composition in liquid and/or vapor form and for a time effective to contact an effective amount of the released composition with the soiled fabric, so as to treat, clean and/or freshen the fabric. Preferably, the bag is placed in the dryer so that the bottom is against the back wall of the dmm, which will facilitate ease in spinning.

The fabric-treatment systems of the invention contemplate any type of fabric-treatment composition. In general, the fabric-treatment composition should not react with the substrate of the bag or the fabric articles in any o harmful or deleterious manner. For instance, the fabric-treatment composition may comprise water and fragrance, and optionally an organic solvent and/or optionally a surfactant. The surfactants may act as cleaning intensifiers to facilitate removal of the soil upon release of the fabric-treatment composition from the substrate in the dryer. Non-ionic, amphoteric and anionic surfactants 5 may be used in the compositions. Alternatively, they may be organic solvent- based systems, with large amounts of organic solvent.

The composition may be comprised of a fabric-treatment agent, alone or in combination with another ingredient. Common agents include, for instance, dry-cleaning and fabric-softening agents. o Examples of other fabric-treatment agents are anti-creasing agents, anti-soil agents, fatty acid condensates, bacteriostatic agents, brightening agents, bodying agents, dyes, coloring agents, fiber emollients, finishing agents, fragrances, germicides, lubricants, mildew-proofing agents, moth-proofing agents, shrinkage controllers, preservatives, fiber emollients, stain-removing agents, deodorants, insect repellents, sizing agents, starch, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

The fabric-treatment compositions may be present on a substrate (for instance, a sheet, a sponge, a ball, a dauber, a stick, granules or a cube). The substrate should be of sufficient size to contain an effective amount of the fabric-treatment composition. A sheet is the preferred substrate, such as, for instance, a plastic sheet or a porous sheet, and the composition may be stably impregnated, coated or otherwise applied onto the sheet. Usually the fabric-treatment compositions remain in a moist or wet state when present on a substrate. In the alternative, however, the compositions may be present in a spray or roll on solution, or even be in a dry state, such as powder or granules.

The fabric-treatment compositions of the invention may be o applied to soiled fabric articles in any manner. Preferably, the fabric-treatment composition is present in the fabric-treatment system on a substrate such as described above.

A sheet is the prefened substrate. Fabric materials useful to form the sheet (which should be flexible) include woven or, 5 preferably, non- woven fibers that are generally adhesively or thermally bonded. Fibrous sheets having a web or corded fiber stmcture, or those which comprise fibrous mats in which the fibers are distributed haphazardly or in a random anay can also be used. The fibers can be natural, such as wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, o sisal, or ramie; or synthetic such as rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides or polyesters. Generally, any diameter or demier of fiber is useful in the present invention. Preferably, the non-woven cloth materials are not prone to tear or separate when used, for example, in an automatic dryer, which may be due to the haphazard or random array of fibers in the non-woven material imparting strength in all directions.

Some examples of preferred non-woven cloth material useful as substrates in the present invention include 100% rayon sheets, 100% polypropylene sheets, or blends (such as, for example, blends from cellulosic rayon and synthetic fibers).

Preferably the sheets have dimensions ranging from about 3" X 4" up to about 14" X 16". However, the sheet must also be of a sufficient size to carry a desirable load of fabric-treatment composition. Thus, the most prefened size of sheets range from about 4" X 14", particularly from about 5" X 12" to about 9" X 10". In conjunction therewith, the preferred sheets have surface areas ranging from about 12 inches squared to about 224 inches squared, and most preferably from about 48 inches squared to about 120 inches squared. When the bag is sufficiently small for containment of a single soiled fabric article or several small fabric articles (e.g., having dimensions ranging from about 18" x 22" up to about 20" x 26", and preferably 20" x 24") the sheet should also be suitably small (e.g., having dimension ranging between about 3" X 4" up to about 6" x 9", and preferably 5 5/8" x 8 1/2"). The fabric-treatment composition of the present invention is released from the sheet, sponge, ball, dauber, stick, cube, granules, etc. upon physical contact with the fabric articles in any manner desired, such as, for example, when the fabric articles and the sheet, sponge, ball, dauber, stick, cube, granules, etc. are tumbled together in the bag, preferably under heated conditions. For instance, in one embodiment of the invention, one or more fabric articles and a suitably sized, flexible sheet containing a fabric treatment composition are placed into the bag, the opening of the bag is closed, and then the bag is subjected to an amount of agitation and/or heat effective to release the composition from the flexible sheet upon contacting the fabric articles. The sheet "tumbles" among the fabric articles, thus dispersing the composition evenly onto them. Thus contacted, the fabric articles are cleaned, freshened or otherwise treated by the composition. In one aspect of the invention, the bag, containing the flexible sheet and the fabric article(s), can be placed in a rotary hot air clothes dryer to provide the effective amount of heat and/or agitation, or tumbling, usually at a temperature of about 40°C-95°C, preferably at about 50°-90°C, for preselected periods of time. For example, about 15-45 minutes of tumbling are sufficient to release the fabric- treatment composition from the sheet interior surface of the bag at these temperatures and to clean or freshen the fabric articles.

In an alternative embodiment, the fabric-treatment composition may further be applied directly to the soiled fabric to be cleaned, e.g., by spraying, sponging, applying via squeeze bottle, rolling on wet or sprinkling via dry or moist powder or granule, the dry-cleaning composition onto the fabric. The fabric is subsequently placed into the bag, the bag opening fastened shut and the system rotated in a hot air clothes dryer. One option with the invention, instead of or in addition to placing into the bag an effective amount of the fabric-treatment composition, is that at least a portion of the interior surface of the bag has an effective amount of the fabric-treatment composition releasably absorbed thereinto. For example, the interior absorptive surface may be a non-woven fabric attached to the inside surface of the bag after formation of the bag itself, as a second step. The fabric- treatment composition may be applied to the interior absorptive surface of the bag wall, i.e., by spraying, after the manufacture of the bag. Once the composition has been applied, the soiled fabric can be 5 introduced into the bag, and the bag is then fastened and tumbled in a clothes dryer. The composition cleans the soil from the fabric, and optionally, excess moisture and the removed soil are absorbed by the interior absorptive surface of the bag. In addition, the spotted and/or stained sections of the fabric may be manually rubbed on the inside of o the impregnated bag to pre-treat the soiled areas with the composition in order to loosen the soil. After use, the bag may be discarded, or if desired, it may be constructed of a suitable material to allow repeated usage in a plurality of cleaning cycles.

Alternatively, the composition is applied to the fabric in 5 another suitable manner, and the absorptive surface need not contain the composition at all. In that case, the absorptive surface may be useful for absorbing soil and excess moisture during the cleaning process.

In one embodiment, the bags of the invention can include at least one o vent 2 which permits moisture, air, vapor, odor and pressure to flow in and/or out through the surfaces of the bag. The vent 2 may be in a variety of forms, including pores, slits, holes, and the like. As shown in Figure 3, the vent is in the shape of a half moon with a complimentary flap 2a. The bags of this embodiment are particularly useful for generally treating, and especially 5 softening, laundered (i.e., damp or wet) fabric articles, where the vents serve to facilitate exhausting odors, vapors, etc. from the bag as it tumbles in the heated dryer. In one specific embodiment, if clothing has been washed and the user desires to treat/soften selected pieces of the washed clothing, the fabric- treatment composition is placed in the bag along with the selected wet o clothing, and the bag is closed and tumbled with the rest of the wet clothing (which is outside the bag, in the dryer) under conditions of heat. Preferably, the vent design will allow the clothing in the bag to dry as it tumbles in a dryer without treating the clothing outside the bag. The ability of the bag to expand in size due to the gussets also promotes the tumbling and hence the drying and treatment of the fabric articles.

The bags may be made with any materials suitable for the end-purpose desired. For instance, as described above, the material making up the bag may include a substrate layer and a metalized layer. In this metalized embodiment, the bag is advantageous in that it o provides a dryer-safe device comprised of a material that is substantially air and moisture impervious, and is resistant to degradation, abrasion or tearing in conditions of tumbling. Other advantages of these bags are that they resist melting in elevated temperatures, exhibit improved heat resistance in general, reflect heat, 5 permit thinner gauge of plastics to be used, can prevent static electricity buildup, and extend the useful life of the bag. These bags are also beneficial because they may be substantially air and moisture impervious, and even reduce or eliminate permeation of chemicals (such as fragrance, organic solvent and volatile substances) that may 0 be present in the fabric-treatment composition, through the material of the bag.

In another embodiment, as described above, the bags may be formed of a polymer-layered substrate material, such as coated or laminated non-woven cloth, woven cloth or paper. The polymer may 5 be water or solvent based, including polyurethane, emulsion-filled polymers, and the like. One of the advantages of polymer-layered cloth or paper bags its strength and heat resistance when used in a fabric-treatment system. Another advantage is that the bag can make use of a generally combustible and flimsy substrate material, which is o made thermally stable when combined with the polymer-coat. Similarly, the substrate-polymer combination renders the bag resistant to degradation by moisture, and resistant to abrasion or tearing in conditions of tumbling (or other agitation). In addition, the bags may be lightweight and have an appealing soft exterior or interior feel due to the soft substrate. Generally, at least the substrate material is inexpensive (and often the polymer as well), and thus the bag is cost-effective to produce. These coated bags are also beneficial because they may be substantially air and moisture impervious, and even reduce or eliminate permeation of chemicals (such as fragrance, organic solvent and volatile substances) that may be present in the fabric-treatment composition, through the material of the bag.

The invention also relates to kits for treating a fabric article. These kits comprise, packaged in association, (i) at least one of the tapered or straight- walled, flat -bottomed bags, and

(ii) an effective amount of at least one fabric-treatment composition. The invention has been described with reference to various specific and prefened embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A fabric-treatment system for containment and treating and/or freshening of one or more fabric articles in conditions of heat and tumbling in a rotary clothes dryer comprising: (a) a fabric-treatment composition; and

(b) a bag defining an opening, and having a fastening system, a substantially planar bottom and a tapering body having a top portion and a bottom portion, where the body is connected to the planar bottom at the bottom portion, and the top portion is narrower than the planar bottom..

2. A fabric-treatment system for containment and treating and/or freshening of one or more fabric articles in conditions of heat and tumbling in a rotary clothes dryer comprising:

(a) a fabric-treatment composition; and

(b) a bag defining an opening, and having a fastening system, a substantially planar bottom and a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, where the body is connected to the planar bottom at the bottom portion, and the body portion is substantially perpendicular to the planar bottom.