Dry Cleaning (e.g., Using Nonaqueous Fluid, Etc.) Patents (Class 510/285)
  • Patent number: 5756002
    Abstract: A cleaning solvent comprising(A) about 3 to about 20 wt % of a fluorinated compound selected from the group consisting of(1) fluorocarbons having the general formulaC.sub.m H.sub.n F.sub.2m+2-nwhere m is 4 to 8, and n is 0 to m/2 if m is even and 0 to (m+1)/2 if m is odd;(2) C.sub.5 F.sub.11 NO;(3) alkyl perfluoroethers having the general formulaR.sub.1 OR.sub.2where R.sub.1 is C.sub.3 F.sub.7 or C.sub.4 F.sub.9 and R.sub.2 is CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ; and(4) fluorochlorocarbons having the general formulaC.sub.p H.sub.q Cl.sub.r F.sub.2p+2-q-rwhere p is 3, 4, or 5, q is 1 to p-1, and r is 1 to p-1;(B) up to about 15 wt % of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkanol; and(C) the remainder benzotrifluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hang-Chang Bobby Chen, Edward A. Rowe
  • Patent number: 5746776
    Abstract: A bag for the cleaning and containment of soiled fabric articles is provided which comprises a fastening system that, when fastened provides a vapor impermeable container and an interior surface releasably impregnated with an effective amount of a gelled liquid dry-cleaning composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Creative Products Resource, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Smith, George W. Kellett
  • Patent number: 5712237
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of removal of contaminants from textiles and related fabrics and garments utilizing compositions which pose no significant risk to groundwater and which are substantially biodegradable. Compositions according to the present invention are substantially non-toxic, substantially bio-degradable liquids at room temperature or higher and are effective in removing substantial quantities of contaminants from fabrics, especially including garments. The present compositions contain at least one dibasic ester, an alcohol, water and at least one surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Edwin B. Stevens
  • Patent number: 5685915
    Abstract: A new set of effective, environmentally safe, nonflammable, low-toxicity refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents, propellants, and firefighting agents is disclosed. The agents are clean, electrically nonconductive, and have short atmospheric lifetimes, zero ozone-depletion potential, and low global warming potentials. The agents comprise at least one fluoroiodocarbon agent satisfying the general formula C.sub.a H.sub.b Br.sub.c Cl.sub.d F.sub.e I.sub.f N.sub.g O.sub.h, wherein a is between and including 1 and 8; b is between and including 0 and 2; c, d, g, and h are each between and including 0 and 1; e is between and including 1 and 18; and f is between and including 1 and 2, either neat or mixed with additives selected from the group consisting of: alcohols, esters, ethers, fluoroethers, hydrocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ikon Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Shelley Nimitz, Lance Harrell Lankford
  • Patent number: 5683977
    Abstract: A system for dry cleaning soils from fabrics comprising densified carbon dioxide and a surfactant in the densified CO.sub.2. The surfactant has a polysiloxane, a branched polyalkylene oxide and a halocarbon group which is a functional CO.sub.2 -philic moiety connected to a CO.sub.2 -phobic functional moiety. The surfactant either exhibits an HLB of less than 15 or has a ratio of siloxyl to substituted siloxyl groups of greater than 0.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon Harriott Jureller, Judith Lynne Kerschner, Myongsuk Bae-Lee, Lisa Del Pizzo, Rosemarie Harris, Carol Resch, Cathy Wada
  • Patent number: 5683473
    Abstract: A method of dry cleaning fabrics using a dry cleaning system is described. The system comprises densified carbon dioxide, preferably in a liquid phase, and a selected surfactant which is soluble in the densified CO.sub.2. The surfactant has a polysiloxane, a branched polyalkylene oxide or a halocarbon group which is a functional CO.sub.2 -philic moiety connected to a CO.sub.2 -phobic functional moiety. The surfactant either exhibits an HLB of less than 15 or has a ratio of siloxyl to substituted siloxyl groups of greater than 0.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon Harriott Jureller, Judith Lynne Kerschner, Rosemarie Harris
  • Patent number: 5681355
    Abstract: A dry cleaning process is conducted in a hot air clothes dryer using a containment bag. The bag is constructed using heat resistant polymers, such as nylon, to avoid unanticipated hot spots in the dryer. The bag retains its integrity and can be re-used in subsequent dry cleaning operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Maxwell Gregory Davis, Bradford Scott Barron, Andrew Julian Wnuk, Julius Saslow
  • Patent number: 5676705
    Abstract: A method of dry cleaning fabrics using a dry cleaning system is described. The system comprises densified carbon dioxide and a surfactant in the densified CO.sub.2. The surfactant has a polysiloxane, a branched polyalkylene oxide and a halocarbon group which is a functional CO.sub.2 -philic moiety connected to a CO.sub.2 -phobic functional moiety. The surfactant either exhibits an HLB of less than 15 or has a ratio of siloxyl to substituted siloxyl groups of greater than 0.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon Harriott Jureller, Judith Lynne Kerschner, Myongsuk Bae-Lee, Lisa Del Pizzo, Rosemarie Harris, Carol Resch, Cathy Wada
  • Patent number: 5618781
    Abstract: Stable azeotrope-like compositions consisting essentially of dichloropentafluoropropane and a hydrocarbon containing six carbon atoms which are useful in a variety of industrial cleaning applications including cold cleaning and defluxing of printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Hillel Magid, David P. Wilson, Dennis M. Lavery, Richard M. Hollister, Richard E. Eibeck, Michael Vanderpuy
  • Patent number: 5613984
    Abstract: A process for laundering garments soiled with a one component paint, a two component paint, a waterborne paint, a powder coat paint or a mixture thereof comprising the steps of exposing the soiled garment to an acid ester; subsequently washing the garment by exposing the garment to at least one detergent and to at least one alkali to remove paint solids adhered to the garment in the presence of a coating solvent to prevent the redeposition of the paint solids removed from the garment by the detergent and the alkali and, subsequently drying the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Exfoliation Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert I. Nightingale, Charles W. Berndt
  • Patent number: 5610128
    Abstract: Novel surfactants and drying, drycleaning and soil repellency compositions containing such surfactants which utilize such surfactants. The surfactants are fluorine containing quaternary ammonium salts, and the drying, drycleaning and soil repellency compositions contain at least one halocarbon component and at least one of the fluorine containing surfactants. These compositions have the ability to remove water or aqueous films from the surfaces of a broad range of substrates and impart soil repellency to fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Zyhowski, David Nalewajek, Leonard M. Stachura