The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 11, 2002
Hoai-Chau Cao, Ans, BE;
Alain Gourgue, Lincent, BE;
Alain Jacques, Blegny, BE;
Joseph Reul, Heusy, BE;
JuliettE Rousselet, Bassenge, BE;
Jeffrey T. Epp, Mt. Arlington, NJ (US);
Amjad Farooq, Hillsborough, NJ (US);
Charles J. Schramm, Jr., Hillsborough, NJ (US);
Colgate-Palmolive, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition for softening or conditioning fabrics in the wash cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dose comprising a compacted granular fabric softener composition in an amount sufficient to form a unit dose capable of providing effective softening or conditioning of fabrics in the wash cycle of said washing machine, and wherein said fabric softener composition comprises (A) a treated montmorillonite-containing clay selected to have initial properties as follows: (i) a montmorillonite content of at least 85%; and (ii) when said clay is activated with sodium ions, dried and ground to particles, said ground particles do not swell more than about 2.5 fold over a period of 24 hours when added to deionized water at room temperature; and wherein said montmorillonite-containing clay is treated by the process comprising the following sequential steps: (a) drying said clay to a moisture content of from about 25 to about 35%, by weight; (b) extruding the dried material through a die to form a paste; (c) drying said paste to a moisture content of from about 10% to about 14% by weight; and (d) calcining at a temperature of about 120° C. to about 250° C.; and (B) at least one disintegration agent to enhance the dispersibility of said compacted granular composition in water selected from the group consisting of swelling polymers; cellulose; and electrolytes.