Fabric care article and method for conserving energy

Abstract

Articles of manufacture and methods for providing energy conserving means to control and/or remove wrinkles from fabric. The article includes an aqueous wrinkle control composition in a package and a set of instructions associated with the package, the set of instructions includes instructions for controlling and/or removing wrinkles in an energy and/or environment conserving manner by applying the composition to wrinkled fabrics, manipulating the fabrics to remove wrinkles and allowing the fabrics to dry without the use of an iron or tumble dryer. Alternatively, the set of instructions can be provided through the electronic or print media or some combination thereof. The instructions can further include an instruction concerning the energy that is conserved through the use of the composition as a substitute for laundering and/or ironing. The instructions can further include a recommendation or endorsement from a government agency, non-profit organization, utility service provider, or some combination thereof.

1 . An article of manufacture for providing energy and/or environment conserving means to control and/or remove wrinkles from fabric, the article comprising: 
 an aqueous wrinkle composition in a package; and    a set of instructions associated with the package, the set of instructions comprising an instruction to control and/or remove wrinkles from fabric in an energy and/or environment conserving manner, by applying the aqueous wrinkle composition to wrinkled fabrics, manipulating fabrics to remove wrinkles and allowing the fabrics to dry without the use of an iron or tumble dryer.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions describe and/or illustrate the steps of applying the composition to a fabric, manipulating the fabric to remove wrinkles, and allowing the treated fabric to dry with words, pictures, drawings and/or icons.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions describe the manipulation of the fabric by hand.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the manipulation of the fabric is by pulling, tugging, shaking, snapping, smoothing, pressing the fabric between the hands, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise an instruction to treat fabrics with the composition to prepare the fabrics for use or reuse as a substitute for laundering.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the package has a spray dispenser.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the spray dispenser is selected from the group consisting of a pump sprayer, aerosol sprayer, trigger sprayer, pre-compression sprayer, and non-manual power sprayer.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said instructions further comprise an instruction to apply the aqueous wrinkle composition in an amount from about 5% to about 150% by weight of the dry fabric.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein said instructions comprise an instruction to apply the aqueous wrinkle composition in an amount from about 20% to about 75% by weight of the dry fabric.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise an instruction to use the aqueous wrinkle composition as a substitute for ironing and/or laundering.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise information on the energy conserved by controlling fabric wrinkles through the use of the aqueous wrinkle composition.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise information on the energy conserved by preparing fabrics for use or reuse without laundering.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprises a recommendation and/or endorsement by a government agency, non-profit organization, utility provider, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the government agency is the U.S. Department of Energy.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are provided to a consumer via a communication from a utility service provider.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are provided via electronic or print media, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises water and at least one of the following active: 
 (A). less than about 15% by weight of the composition of low molecular weight water soluble or water miscible organic solvent;    (B). from about 0.001% to about 10% of wrinkle control agent selected from the group of silicones, fiber-fabric lubricants, shape retention polymers, fabric care polysaccharides, and mixtures thereof;    (C). an effective amount of surfactant;    (D). an effective amount the composition of hydrophilic plasticizer;    (E). an effective amount of odor control agent;    (F). an effective amount of perfume;    (G). an effective amount, to killof antimicrobial active;    (H). a effective level of propellant; and/or    (I). other optional ingredients to provide additional fabric care benefits comprising: fabric softening agent, color care agent, anti-shrinkage agent, water-soluble polyionic polymer, anti-static agent, insect repelling agent, moth repelling agent, colorant, anti-clogging agent, and/or viscosity control agent.    
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 10% by weight of the composition of low molecular weight water soluble or water miscible organic solvent.  
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a uniform composition when at rest.  
     
     
         20 . A method for providing energy and/or environment conserving means to control and/or remove wrinkles from fabric, the method comprising: 
 providing an aqueous wrinkle composition in a package; and    providing a set of instructions associated with the package, the set of instructions comprising an instruction to control and/or remove wrinkles from fabric in an energy and/or environment conserving manner, by applying the aqueous wrinkle composition to wrinkled fabrics, manipulating fabrics to remove wrinkles and allowing the fabrics to dry without the use of an iron or tumble dryer.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions describe and/or illustrate the steps of applying the composition to a fabric, manipulating the fabric to remove wrinkles, and allowing the treated fabric to dry with words, pictures, drawings and/or icons.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions describe the manipulation of the fabric by hand.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the manipulation of the fabric is by pulling, tugging, shaking, snapping, smoothing, pressing the fabric between the hands, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions further comprise an instruction to treat fabrics with the composition to prepare the fabrics for use or reuse as a substitute for laundering.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the package has a spray dispenser.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the spray dispenser is selected from the group consisting of a pump sprayer, aerosol sprayer, trigger sprayer, pre-compression sprayer and non-manual power sprayer.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said instructions further comprise an instruction to apply the aqueous wrinkle composition in an amount from about 5% to about 150% by weight of the dry fabric.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said instructions comprise an instruction to apply the aqueous wrinkle composition in an amount from about 20% to about 75% by weight of the dry fabric.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions further comprise an instruction to use the aqueous wrinkle composition as a substitute for ironing and/or laundering.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions further comprise information on the energy conserved by controlling fabric wrinkles through the use of the aqueous wrinkle composition.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions further comprise information on the energy conserved by preparing fabrics for use or reuse without laundering.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions further comprise a recommendation and/or endorsement by a government agency, non-profit organization, utility provider, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The article of  claim 32 , wherein the government agency is the U.S. Department of Energy.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions are provided to a consumer via a communication from a utility service provider.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions are provided through electronic or print media, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the composition comprises water and at least one of the following active: 
 (A). less than about 15% by weight of the composition of low molecular weight water soluble or water miscible organic solvent;    (B). from about 0.001% to about 10% of wrinkle control agent selected from the group of silicones, fiber-fabric lubricants, shape retention polymers, fabric care polysaccharides, and mixtures thereof;    (C). an effective amount of surfactant;    (D). an effective amount the composition of hydrophilic plasticizer;    (E). an effective amount of odor control agent;    (F). an effective amount of perfume;    (G). an effective amount, to killof antimicrobial active;    (H). a effective level of propellant; and/or    (I). other optional ingredients to provide additional fabric care benefits comprising:    fabric softening agent, color care agent, anti-shrinkage agent, water-soluble polyionic polymer, anti-static agent, insect repelling agent, moth repelling agent, colorant, anti-clogging agent, and/or viscosity control agent.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 10% by weight of the composition of low molecular weight water soluble or water miscible organic solvent.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the composition has a uniform composition when at rest.  
     
     
         39 . A method for teaching a consumer to conserve energy and/or the environment, the method comprising the step of informing a consumer that the treatment of wrinkled fabrics with a wrinkle control composition will enable the consumer to conserve energy by eliminating the need to use an iron to remove wrinkles from fabric and/or by eliminating the need to re-launder the fabric between each use.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the teaching is given via electronic and/or print media.  
     
     
         41 . A method for promoting the use of wrinkle control compositions, the method comprising the step of informing a consumer that the treatment of fabric with a wrinkle control composition will enable the consumer to conserve energy and/or the environment by eliminating the need to use an iron to remove wrinkles from fabric and/or by eliminating the need to re-launder the fabric between each use.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the promoting is provided via electronic and/or print media.