(19) & (11) EP 1 697 491 B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.: of the grant of the patent: C11D 17/04 (2006.01) C11D 3/00 (2006.01) 12.11.2008 Bulletin 2008/46 (86) International application number: (21) Application number: 04820810.2 PCT/EP2004/013556 (22) Date of filing: 29.11.2004 (87) International publication number: WO 2005/063959 (14.07.2005 Gazette 2005/28) (54) METHOD FOR SOFTENEING FABRICS VERFAHREN ZUM wEICHSPÜLEN VON TEXTILIEN PROCEDE D’ADOUCISSEMENT DES TISSUS (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: BRIGGS, Stephen L., AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR Unilever R & D Port Sunlight HU IE IS IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Wirral, Merseyside CH63 3JW (GB) (30) Priority: 23.12.2003 GB 0329794 (74) Representative: Elliott, Peter William (43) Date of publication of application: Unilever Patent Group 06.09.2006 Bulletin 2006/36 Colworth House Sharnbrook (73) Proprietors: Bedford • Unilever PLC MK44 1LQ (GB) London Greater London EC4P 4BQ (GB) (56) References cited: Designated Contracting States: EP-A- 0 325 944 EP-A- 0 328 863 CY GB IE EP-A- 0 962 519 DE-A1- 3 832 017 • Unilever N.V. US-A- 3 947 971 US-A- 5 234 610 3013 AL Rotterdam (NL) US-A- 5 376 287 Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GR HU IS IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). EP 1 697 491 B1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) EP 1 697 491 B1 Description Field of the Invention 5 [0001] The present invention relates to a method of dispersing a fabric conditioning composition in a rinse liquid during hand-washing. Background of the Intention and Prior Art 10 [0002] Fabric conditioning compositions for use in the laundry are typically added to the laundry process after the washing stage. Where the laundry process involves an automatic washing machine, the conditioning composition may need to be dosed either directly into the drum or via a dispensing tray. For hand-wash processes, the composition will be dosed into the hand-wash liquor. [0003] Independent of the type of process, the fabric conditioning composition must firstly be sufficiently dispersed 15 into the rinse liquor so that it can act on the fabrics being laundered. [0004] If the composition is inadequately dispersed, there is a significant risk that it will not be deposited evenly on the fabric but will instead deposit at excessive concentrations on small portions thereof which in turn may lead to spotting or staining. There is also the risk that the ingredients within the composition may not deposit at all and will instead remain in an undispersed state within the rinse liquor. 20 [0005] This is clearly undesirable to consumers. [0006] Dispersion of the composition may often not be fully complete before the composition is contacted with the fabrics to be treated. In the dispensing drawer of an automatic washing machine, this can manifest itself as a build up of a gel-like residue requiring the consumer to carry out additional undesirable cleaning of the drawer. [0007] Dispersion thus remains problematic for fabric conditioning compositions. 25 [0008] Various ways of addressing this problem have been found including placing a dosed amount of the fabric conditioning composition into a container, adding water and shaking or mixing to form a pre-dispersion which can then be added to the laundry cycle so as to disperse therein more easily. The drawback with this approach is that the consumer is burdoned with additional undesirable tasks and will typically be required to prepare such a pre-dispersion in advance of the laundry cycle. 30 [0009] It is thus remains desirable to provide a means for dispersing fabric conditioning compositions. [0010] Articles such as sponges are known for use with personal washing products. [0011] A scrubbing apparatus used for personal hygiene, commonly referred to as a polymer mesh puff, is often used in cleansing the skin. These polymer mesh puffs are typically manufactured from one or more pieces of synthetic open cell mesh which are bound together and manipulated into a plurality of random folds to form a generally rounded shape, 35 or puff. [0012] US 3,226,751 discloses a combination sponge and scouring device. The implement includes a soft and flexible cellular base section made of any suitable, flexible expanded plastic and scouring elements. [0013] US 3,414,928 discloses a combination sponge and scour. The device includes a cellular expanded plastic base, an unexpanded material secured to a portion of the surface of the base, and a plurality of scouring elements 40 secured to and supported by the unexpanded plastic material. [0014] WO 95/00116 discloses a system for cleaning the skin which comprises a diamond mesh sponge and a liquid cleansing and moisturising composition, which system is said to have excellent lather. [0015] US 3,634,901 discloses a combined cleaning and abrading or scouring utensil. [0016] US 4,980,943 discloses a cleaning glove. 45 [0017] US 5,465,452 discloses a first extended tubular scrim having a diamond mesh pattern used to construct a personal cleaning implement. [0018] US 4,154,542 is directed to a shower mitt which includes a mesh sheet of nylon net to provide a soap- retaining pocket. [0019] US 4,606,964 is directed to a bulked web composite which comprises a differentially tensioned reticulated web 50 of elastic material banded to at least one gatherable web. [0020] US 2,581,779 discloses a scouring pad said to have a greater ease of manipulation. [0021] US 3,103,031 discloses a composite scouring pad made by folding plastic fibres with metallic filaments into an open batt. [0022] US 2,817,865 discloses a sponge covered strand washcloth with soap pocket. The strands cross and are 55 interwoven. [0023] US 5,144,744 discloses a hand-held ball-like polymeric mesh sponge. It is a diamond-mesh polyethylene sponge obtained from a number of netting tubes stretched over supports, joined and bound together at the centre and then released from the supports. 2 EP 1 697 491 B1 [0024] US 3,343,196 discloses a method for manufacturing a puff from an open cell mesh. [0025] US 4,190,550 is directed to a fibrous soap filled pad which when used as a bathing aid imparts a cleansing and mildly stimulating rubbing action to human skin. [0026] US 4,969,225 is directed to improved scrub brushes specifically made to contain a bar of soap for use for 5 bathing, cleansing and the like. [0027] Commercially available "polymeric mesh sponges" are sold by The Body Shop and Bynum Concepts, Inc. Other suppliers include Supremia Use in New Jersey, Sponge Factory Dominicana in the Dominican Republic and Integrated Marketing Group in Harrison, New York. [0028] Typically, in the prior art, washing implements as described above find their greatest utility in combination with 10 a liquid cleanser, since there is a need with liquid cleansers for the consumers to have an implement to grasp and with which to generate lather. [0029] Often, the liquid cleanser includes a moisturising ingredient in addition to a surfactant. The desire for an im- plement to generate lather in a washing system including a moisturising cleansing composition is often foremost within the contemplation of a consumer. Such a desire is mentioned in, for instance, WO 95/00116. 15 [0030] By contrast, it has been long established that, for rinse conditioning products such as fabric softening compo- sitions, foaming is considered undesirable by consumers since foaming is associated only with a washing rather than a rinse conditioning step. [0031] Thus it is important to avoid foaming of the rinse conditioning composition. 20 Objects of the Invention [0032] The present invention seeks to address one or more of the abovementioned problems and/or to provide one or more of the abovementioned benefits. [0033] Surprisingly, it has now been found that a permeable, preferably porous article provides an excellent dispersing 25 means for fabric conditioning compositions. Statement of Invention [0034] Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a method of dispersing a fabric conditioning com- 30 position having a viscosity, measured using a Haake Rotorisiometer with MV1 cup and Bob at 106s-1, of greater than 200mPaS, in a rinse liquid in a container used in a hand-washing laundry operation, the method comprising introducing said fabric conditioning composition onto or into a permeable article, submersing the article in the liquid and agitating the article so as to assist dispersion of the composition. 35 Detailed Description of the Invention [0035] In the context of the present invention, the term "comprising" denotes that the feature (s) to which it refers is/are not exhaustive and further features may be present. 40 Permeable Article [0036] The method of the invention comprises a permeable article. [0037] Preferably the article is porous and/or absorbent. More preferably the article is a sponge or meshed article. [0038] It is preferred that the article is compressible and it is particularly preferred that the article is resilient.