Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Liquid composition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-10-09
Einsmann, Margaret (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Liquid composition
C510S130000, C424S078030, C516S053000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06300301
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a cleansing preparation, a process for producing such a preparation, and cleansing articles provided with such a preparation. For reasons which will become apparent from the ensuing description, the preparation of the invention is referred to herein as a lotion.
The invention particularly concerned with a lotion suitable for use as a baby wipe lotion, and to baby wipes containing such a lotion. However, it is to be understood that the invention is of wider application than this, and that it encompasses a lotion which is intended to be provided to a user in the form of a liquid, for example in a container of glass, plastics or other materials, for application to the skin either directly from the container or by use of a cleansing member, for example one which includes or consists of cotton wool. The invention also encompasses cleansing articles other than baby wipes, for example wipes commonly used when travelling, in restaurants, in domestic situations and elsewhere. For simplicity, however, the ensuing description will concentrate on the application of the invention in the field of baby wipes.
Conventionally, a baby wipe consists of a small sheet of fibrous material impregnated with an aqueous cleansing preparation. Such wipes have been found to be very acceptable as a means of cleansing urine and bowel motions from a baby's skin, for example in the course of changing the baby's diaper. However, although effective for the purpose of cleansing, such wipes do not, normally, of themselves, provide any protection for the skin against the effects of subsequent wetting or soiling, and it is therefore common practice, after using the baby wipe, to apply an oil-based material, for example in the form of a cream.
EP-A-328355 and EP-A-0613675 describe an oil-in-water emulsion for use, inter alia, in baby wipes. It is noted, however, that no reference is made in either to the size of the oil particles in the emulsion, a matter which is discussed below as being of considerable significance. However, in the case of EP-A-328355, it is specifically stated that polymeric emulsification is used.
It is an object of the present invention to provide, inter alia, a baby wipe, and a liquid preparation for use therein which both has an effective cleansing action and which contains an oil to afford protection to the skin. The liquid preparation is to be stable, so as to permit storage thereof and, more importantly, the storage of baby wipes impregnated therewith, for extended periods without deterioration. The liquid preparation should also be such that, despite the presence of the oil, it does not give rise to an unacceptably sticky feel on the skin, bearing in mind that some of the material will inevitably end up on the skin of the person handling the baby, rather than on the baby's own skin.
As in the case of the product described in EP-A-328355 and EP-A-0623675 mentioned above, the approach adopted in the present invention is to use an oil-in-water emulsion, in which there is a high proportion of water to provide the cleansing action, and in which the droplets of oil provide the desired skin protection. However, one of the major problems encountered in employing this approach is that of making the emulsion sufficiently stable.
Some known cosmetic and toiletry products which use such emulsions achieve stability of the emulsion by adding materials to the aqueous phase to give it a high viscosity. However, that option is not desirable where baby wipes are concerned, since the increased viscosity of the aqueous phase would both impair the cleansing action and make it difficult to apply the liquid to the fibrous sheets. Polymeric emulsification, as described in EP-A-328355, is also disadvantageous because of the increase in viscosity which it produces.
According to the present invention there is provided a cleansing preparation in the form of an emulsion having a continuous aqueous phase and a discontinuous oil phase, the preparation comprising a preservative system which is present at least in the aqueous phase, the oil phase consisting of particles having a median particle diameter by volume of not more than 1 &mgr;m. The median particle size is preferably not more than 0.5 &mgr;m, more preferably not more than 0.3 &mgr;m, and most preferably not more than 0.2 &mgr;m. At least about 98% of the particle volume is preferably in the form of particles having a diameter of not more than 2 &mgr;m, more preferably not more than 1 &mgr;m, and most preferably not more than 0.5 &mgr;m. The preparation preferably has a viscosity less than 150 mPa.s, more preferably less than 50 mPa.s, and most preferably less than 5 mpa.s. The preservative system preferably comprises phenoxyethanol, preferably in an amount equal to less than 1%, more preferably less than 0.8%, by weight based on the total weight of the preparation. Another preferable component of the preservative system, which may be used together with the phenoxyethanol, is a paraben compound.
The invention further provides a method of producing a cleansing preparation as defined above or a concentrate therefor, comprising the steps of forming a coarse emulsion having a continuous aqueous phase and a discontinuous oil phase, and passing at least substantially the whole of the coarse emulsion through a homogenizer at least once so that the oil phase in the homogenized emulsion consists of particles having the desired median particle diameter.
The step of passing the coarse emulsion through the homogenizer may be carried out a plurality of times, and is preferably carried out using a high pressure homogenizer. This pressure is preferably in excess of 100 bar, more preferably at least 175 bar.
In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of diluting the homogenized emulsion with an aqueous dilution liquid, and the dilution liquid preferably comprises at least part of the preservative system. The dilution liquid may comprise a first part of the preservative system, with the remainder of the preservative system being added after dilution, in which case the remainder of the preservative system preferably comprises the component or components thereof having the greatest ratio of oil solubility. In one embodiment of the method of the invention, the said first part of the preservative system comprises the phenoxyethanol, and the said remainder of the preservative system comprises at least one paraben compound.
The invention also provides a cleansing article which comprises a substrate which carries a cleansing preparation according to the invention or a cleansing preparation produced according to the method of the invention. The substrate is preferably flexible, and is preferably non-woven.
In this description, various chemical substances will be referred to using nomenclature commonly used in the industry and set out in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (5th edition, 1993) published by The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc., 1110, 17th Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20036-4702, USA.
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Cha
Bogdanski Michael Scott
Bunke Paul Ralph
Moore Katherine Louise Heinicke
Bullock Roddy M.
Einsmann Margaret
Hughett Eileen L.
Milbrada Edward J.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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