Dissolvable detergent pouch and method

Abstract

A detergent pouch may be made from a dissolvable paper which completely dissolves upon contact with liquid water thereby releasing the detergent contained within the pouch. The dissolvable paper may be a Cellulose gum such as Carboxymethyl Cellulose. The dissolvable paper is free from any coloring, dyes, impurities and other toxins. The detergent may be laundry detergent such as Sodium Carbonate, C12-15 Pareth-2, and Sodium Metasilicate which is free from any fillers, perfumes, coloring agents, or brighteners. The paper pouch and the powder detergent may be safe for septic wastewater treatment systems, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic. The paper pouch may be non-toxic.

Claims

1. A method of detoxifying a load of fabric consisting of: providing plurality of pouches wherein each pouch consists of a paper pouch and a powder detergent sealed within the paper pouch and wherein the paper pouch dissolves upon contact with liquid water thereby releasing the powder detergent; cleaning the washing machine by placing a quantity of rags into a washing machine, placing one of the pouches into the washing machine, and operating the washing machine; selecting the load of fabric to detoxify, placing the load of fabric into the washing machine, placing one of the pouches into the washing machine, and operating the washing machine; placing one of the pouches into the washing machine after the washing machine has washed the fabric in the step above, and operating the washing machine; placing one of the pouches into the washing machine after the washing machine has washed the fabric in the step above, and operating the washing machine; and removing the detoxified fabric from the washing machine; wherein the paper pouch is made from Carboxymethyl Cellulose; wherein pouch has a plain white color and is characterized by an absence of any other color; wherein the powder detergent is a laundry detergent for cleaning fabric, wherein the laundry detergent consists of Sodium Carbonate, C12-15 Pareth-2, and Sodium Metasilicate; wherein the pouch is characterized by a lack of any fillers other than the powder detergent itself and the powder detergent is characterized by a lack of any perfumes, any coloring agents, and any brighteners; wherein the pouch is produced on a form/fill machine; wherein the paper pouch and the powder detergent is safe for septic wastewater treatment systems, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic; and wherein the paper pouch is non-toxic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a bag containing the pouches according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective environmental view of a user opening the bag containing the pouches according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective environmental view of a user removing a pouch from the bag containing the pouches according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective environmental view of a user placing a pouch into a washing machine according to the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a user placing a pouch into a fluid according to the present invention; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of a pouch submerged in a fluid with the paper of the pouch dissolving and releasing the detergent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Referring to FIG. 1, the paper pouches 10 of the present invention may be packaged in a larger bag 20 containing a plurality of pouches 10. A user may tear or cut open the bag 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The user may then remove the paper pouch 10 from the bag 20 as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the user may then load a washing machine 30 with garments 40 as liquid water 42 fills the machine 30. The user may then place the paper pouch 10 into the opening 32 of a washing machine 30.

(9) Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, as the paper pouch 10 is submerged into water 42 the paper disintegrates 12 and fully dissolves in the water. At the same time, the detergent 14 from the paper pouch 10 is released so that the garments may be laundered.

(10) The paper pouches 10 according to the present invention are preferably made from a Cellulose gum such as Carboxymethyl Cellulose. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that any dissolvable paper will work as a substitute and such is specifically contemplated in this application. The paper pouch 10 has a plain white color and is characterized by an absence of any other color.

(11) The detergent 14 contained within pouch is made from Sodium Carbonate, C12-15 Pareth-2, and Sodium Metasilicate. However, other similar hypoallergenic dry detergent powders having no fillers or brighteners may be substituted.

(12) Preferably, the paper pouch 10 is made on a form/fill machine (not shown). The machine forms the flat paper stock into a pouch, fills it with powder, 14, and seals it to produce the final product.

(13) A dissolvable paper pouch 10 containing a detergent 14 according to the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims. It is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.