Colgate Palmolive Company

Russell Edward Compa

Marvin Liebowitz

Ralph Paul Messina

An improved article for conditioning fabrics includes at least one fabric conditioning compound, such as a softening agent, and a reinforcing, strengthening or extending material. The fabric conditioning compound and the article comprising it are usually of a waxy nature and are abradable or otherwise transferable to damp, warm fabrics by repeated contacts therewith experienced during tumbling effected in a drying zone, as of an automatic laundry dryer, through which hot drying air normally circulates. When such a softening article is rubbed against fabrics with which it comes in contact in the heat of the drying zone, softener is rubbed off onto the fabrics to be conditioned, after which the fabrics and laundry containing them are dried. The reinforcing or strengthening material is also dried at that time and is either removed from the fabrics by exiting drying air or is desirably held onto the fabrics that were treated, in conjunction with the softening agent. Preferred reinforcing materials are small fibers or particles or natural or synthetic gums or binders. In an aspect of the invention the fabric conditioning compound is employed without reinforcing means and in convenient sheet, strip or other such substrate-free form, preferably with an added humectant or plasticizer. Also described are methods for the use of the softening articles and processes for their manufacture.

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West Orange, NJ, United States of America

Russell Edward Compa