Apparatus for treating a stain in clothing

Abstract

A package for treating stained fabric. The package can have a backing layer having a second side and a pouch layer joined thereto to form a pouch. A fluid pervious contact substrate can be joined to a first side of the backing layer. The package can have a tie layer joining the contact substrate to a fluid distribution layer, which is joined to the backing layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package for treating a stained fabric, said package comprising:
 a backing layer having a first side opposing a second side, said backing layer having a line of weakness, said second side having a first planar region and a second planar region on opposing sides of said line of weakness;   a pouch layer joined with said second side of said backing layer thereby forming a pouch, said pouch containing a stain treatment fluid; and   a fluid pervious contact substrate joined to said first side of said backing layer proximal said line of weakness, said fluid pervious contact substrate comprising a microfiber layer;   a tie layer disposed in facing relationship with said contact substrate, wherein said tie layer comprises a porous laminate of a layer of polyolefin having a layer of ethylene vinyl acetate on each side of said layer of polyolefin; and   a fluid distribution layer disposed in facing relationship with said tie layer with said tie layer being between said contact substrate and said fluid distribution layer;   wherein said package has a first position in which said first planar region and said second planar region are substantially in plane with one another;   wherein said package has a second position in which said first planar region and said second planar region are in a substantially angularly facing relationship;   wherein in said first position at least a portion of said first planar region and at least a portion of said second planar region are integral with one another and in said second position at least a portion of said backing layer is discontinuous across said line of weakness;   wherein in said second position said pouch is in fluid communication with said contact substrate; and   wherein said stain treatment fluid comprises from about 0.001% to about 99.99%, by weight of said stain treatment fluid, of a surfactant.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said polyolefin is high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a porous foundation layer is joined to said distribution layer and said foundation layer is between said fluid distribution layer and said backing layer. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein said foundation layer is selected from the group consisting of a porous film, a slit film, an apertured film, a woven, a nonwoven, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said contact substrate is joined with said first side of said backing layer by at least two hinges, each hinge comprising a material joined in part to said first side of said backing layer and joined in part to said contact substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein a porous foundation layer is joined to said fluid distribution layer and said foundation layer is between said fluid distribution layer and said backing layer, wherein said hinges are joined to said foundation layer. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein said foundation layer is selected from the group consisting of a porous film, a slit film, an apertured film, a woven, a nonwoven, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said microfiber layer comprises microfibers having a diameter less than about 5 micrometers. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said microfiber layer comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, rayon, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said microfiber layer is selected from the group consisting of a nonwoven comprising microfibers, a woven comprising microfibers, a looped woven comprising microfibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said microfiber layer comprises notched-pie microfibers. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said microfiber layer comprises staple fibers or continuous splitted fibers. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said microfiber layer comprises split polypropylene-polyethylene fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said pouch contains a volume of stain treatment fluid, wherein said distribution layer has a free absorbent capacity, wherein said free absorbent capacity is less than said volume of stain treatment fluid.