Product and process for consumer application of stain and water repellant to fabrics

Abstract

A product and process for imparting stain and water repellancy to fabric, wherein a heat-curable resin which has the property of imparting stain and water repellancy to fabric when applied in proper amount to the fabric and cured, and that can be dispensed as an aerosol, is mixed in suitable proportion with a diluent and placed in an aerosol container along with a suitable propellant. The composition is then sprayed onto the fabric until the fabric is wet. The concentration of the resin in the composition is such that when the fabric is wet with the composition, an appropriate amount of the resin is on the fabric to impart stain and water repellancy to it when the fabric is dried and the resin cured. Curing of the resin can be accomplished by ironing the fabric, or by drying the fabric in a clothes dryer at normal settings. A preferred resin is FS-7520, an aqueous-based concentrated fluoropolymer system, manufactured by Fiber-Shield Industries, Inc. of Yaphank, N.Y., diluted with water to obtain a concentration of 3%-4% solids in the composition used in the invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aerosol product for treating fabric to impart stain and water repellancy to the fabric, comprising: 
 an aerosol container holding a quantity of a composition containing a resin having the property of imparting stain and water repellancy to fabric when applied to the fabric and cured, said composition being capable of being sprayed from an aerosol container, and having said resin therein in sufficient concentration so that when the fabric is wetted with the composition, an appropriate amount of the resin is present on the fabric to impart stain and water repellancy to the fabric when the resin is cured.    
     
     
         2 . An aerosol product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said resin comprises a fluoropolymer.    
     
     
         3 . An aerosol product as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said composition is aqueous based and comprises said fluoropolymer resin and water, with said resin comprising 3% to 4% of the composition.    
     
     
         4 . A process for treating fabric to impart stain and water repellancy to the fabric, comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a composition containing a resin having the property of imparting stain and water repellancy to fabric when applied to the fabric and cured, and a diluent that dilutes the concentration of resin in the composition to a level that will result in an appropriate amount of the resin being present on the fabric to impart stain and water repellancy to the fabric when the composition is applied to the fabric in a quantity sufficient to wet the fabric;    applying the composition to fabric in a quantity to wet the fabric with the composition; and    drying the fabric and curing the resin to impart stain and water repellancy to the fabric.    
     
     
         5 . A process as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the composition is applied to the fabric by spraying it from an aerosol container.    
     
     
         6 . A process as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: the resin is cured by heating the wetted fabric.  
     
     
         7 . A process as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 heating is accomplished by ironing the fabric.    
     
     
         8 . A process as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 heating is accomplished by drying the wetted fabric in a clothes dryer.    
     
     
         9 . A process as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the resin is cured by heating the wetted fabric.    
     
     
         10 . A process as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 heating is accomplished by ironing the fabric.    
     
     
         11 . A process as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 heating is accomplished by drying the wetted fabric in a clothes dryer.