Abstract: This invention relates to non-bleeding and quick color releasing colored speckles for use in granular laundry detergents and other consumer products. The speckles are comprised of a porous carrier, a releasing agent, and a coloring agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning device comprising a cleaning composition and a substrate. The cleaning composition comprises an absorbent particulate, a binding agent, and optionally, a thickening agent. The cleaning composition may be applied to a substrate, such as a textile substrate, by applying the composition to at least one portion of the surface of the substrate or by incorporating the composition throughout the substrate. The absorbent particulate generally exhibits a high affinity for particles, color, grease, oil, and other staining materials and is a soft material which allows for gentle cleaning of most surfaces without detrimentally abrading and scratching soiled surfaces. The absorbent particulate also serves as an indicator providing a visual cue of its cleaning efficacy and may be used in either a wet or dry state.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning device comprising a cleaning composition and a substrate. The cleaning composition comprises an absorbent particulate, a binding agent, and optionally, a thickening agent. The cleaning composition may be applied to a substrate, such as a textile substrate, by applying the composition to at least one portion of the surface of the substrate or by incorporating the composition throughout the substrate. The absorbent particulate generally exhibits a high affinity for particles, color, grease, oil, and other staining materials and is a soft material which allows for gentle cleaning of most surfaces without detrimentally abrading and scratching soiled surfaces. The absorbent particulate also serves as an indicator providing a visual cue of its cleaning efficacy and may be used in either a wet or dry state.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved adhesion compositions and textile materials and articles treated therewith. The improved adhesion composition comprises a non-crosslinked resorcinol-formaldehyde and/or resorcinol-furfural condensate (or a phenol-formaldehyde condensate that is soluble in water), a rubber latex, and an aldehyde component such as 2-furfuraldehyde. The composition may be applied to textile substrates and used for improving the adhesion between the treated textile substrates and rubber materials. End-use articles that contain the treated textile-rubber composite include, without limitation, automobile tires, belts, and hoses as well as printing blankets.

Abstract: A method of producing a decorative carpet tile may include providing a carpet tile in accordance with the prior art techniques and then treating at least two carpet tiles in one of various manners to provide separations internal to side edges of the carpet tile. Specifically, two tiles can be treated simultaneously, in register and/or without moving the second tile after treating the first tile.

Abstract: Provided herein is a process for randomly patterning a plurality of carpet tiles, each tile having a composite pattern containing at least a base pattern and an overlay pattern. When installed, the random order of patterning results in random tile placement and an overall random appearance. The overlay patterns are randomly chosen from a library of patterns until each individual pattern has been used to create a tile series. The overlay patterns may be manipulated by rotating, mirror-imaging, rotating and mirror-imaging, or repositioning to produce additional variations and increase the number of tiles in the series. The base pattern may optionally be manipulated before being incorporated into the composite pattern. A tile collection, containing such randomly ordered composite patterns, is also described.

Abstract: An automated system for generating large numbers of digitally-defined patterns suitable for printing on textiles wherein each pattern is individually different but shares one or more unifying design motifs with all other patterns. In the general case, each pattern is comprised of at least two components in the form of separately configurable pattern layers that are digitally superimposed to form a composite pattern that is unique but visually related to all other unique patterns that use pattern layers taken from the same pattern sources.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved powder cleaning compositions and methods for cleaning textile substrates, especially carpet and upholstery fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to powder cleaning compositions that contain absorbent particulate materials in a flowable form, which dries to a soil ladened powder, that can be removed by vacuum, brushing, and/or laundering methods. The improvement lies in the ability of the composition to remain a flowable powder, while containing a higher water content than previous powder cleaning compositions. The composition comprises an absorbent particulate material, a super absorbent polymer, and other ingredients.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to wound care devices which are capable of one-way, directional flow of fluids and contaminants away from the wound site to the opposite side of the wound care device, which functions as a fluid reservoir. This fluid transport mechanism generally aids in reducing wound maceration by removing excess fluid, and potentially even bacteria, and is carried out without loss of physical integrity of the wound care device itself. In addition to providing a uni-directional fluid transport mechanism, the wound care device may contain a topically applied silver-based antimicrobial finish which provides certain levels of antimicrobial agent to the wound in order to clear infection from the wound site and control bacterial growth in the wound care dressing. Exemplary topical antimicrobial finishes include silver ion-releasing compounds.

Abstract: Improvements in the wash durability and discoloration levels for fabrics having topically applied silver-ion treatments (such as ion-exchange compounds, like zirconium phosphates, glasses and/or zeolites) are provided. Such solid compounds are generally susceptible to discoloration and, due to the solid nature thereof, are typically easy to remove from topical surface applications. The inventive treatment requires the presence of a specific polyurethane binder, either as a silver-ion overcoat or as a component of a dye bath mixture admixed with the silver-ion antimicrobial compound. In addition, specific metal halide additives (preferably substantially free from sodium ions) are utilized to combat the discolorations typical of such silver-ion formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thiazolium dyes and laundry care compositions comprising one or more thiazolium dyes. The dyes and compositions are advantageous in providing improved hueing of fabric, including whitening of white fabric, while avoiding significant build up of bluing dyes on the fabric.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to molded rubber articles such as the type used in water contact applications. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to molded rubber articles containing antimicrobial agents that control biofilm growth on the surface of the molded article. The molded rubber article is comprised of curable rubber compounds and a combination of both inorganic silver-containing antimicrobial agents and organic antimicrobial agents. An exemplary molded rubber article comprises ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, silver-containing ion exchange antimicrobial agent, and an organic antifungal agent such as zinc pyrithione.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions useful for maintaining the clean impression of a carpet (that is, its scent and appearance) over an extended time despite occurrences that might damage the carpet surface. The composition, which includes an antimicrobial agent, an enzyme inhibitor, and an odor-reacting compound, can be used by a consumer to remove contaminants from the carpet and to prevent the odor associated with the decomposition of future contamination. Specifically, the composition has been shown effective in neutralizing odors associated with the decomposition of organic materials (such as urine or food spills) by absorbing and/or removing the odor-generating source. A manufacturing treatment composition and methods for using are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thiazolium dyes, laundry care compositions comprising one or more thiazolium dyes, processes of making such dyes and laundry care compositions and methods of using same. The dyes, compositions and methods of the present invention are advantageous in providing improved hueing of fabric, including whitening of white fabric, while avoiding significant build up of bluing dyes on the fabric.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions useful for maintaining the clean impression of a carpet (that is, its scent and appearance) over an extended time despite occurrences that might damage the carpet surface. The composition, which includes an antimicrobial agent, an enzyme inhibitor, and an odor-reacting compound, can be used by a consumer to remove contaminants from the carpet and to prevent the odor associated with the decomposition of future contamination. Specifically, the composition has been shown effective in neutralizing odors associated with the decomposition of organic materials (such as urine or food spills) by absorbing and/or removing the odor-generating source. A manufacturing treatment composition and methods for using are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to unsubstituted and polymeric leuco colorants for use as consumer product additives to indicate a product function by color change, to make attractive or distinctive visual effects, or to provide latent or delayed color generation. The colorants may be present in a stable, colorless state and may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes. Alternatively, the colorants may be transformed from one color to another color upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes. The colored form of the unsubstituted or polymeric leuco colorant may be transient, since the colorant can revert back to its colorless form or its original color after the physical or chemical activation has been removed or changed. Polymeric leuco colorants are typically comprised of at least two components: at least one leuco chromophore component and at least one polymeric component.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of N,N?-dialkyleneoxy-substituted 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone colorants which contain a low percentage of impurities, to a process to make the compositions, and also to the use of the compositions thus prepared for coloring consumer products.