Packaged cosmetic effervescent cleansing pillow

Details Packaged cosmetic effervescent cleansing pillow Packaged cosmetic effervescent cleansing pillow

2001-05-14

2003-08-26

Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Preparations characterized by special physical form

C434S416000, C434S416000, C434S043000, C434S078000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06610311

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a packaged cosmetic effervescent cleansing product.
2. The Related Art
Cosmetic products are continuously being sought which differentiate themselves from competitors in some manner. Breakthroughs can arise through a difference in product form. A product form departure has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,390 (Farrell et al.). A wiping article is therein described which includes an effervescent cleanser composition held within a pouch formed from a pair of substrate sheets. At least one of those substrate sheets is required to be water permeable. The effervescent composition is a mixture of an add material such as citric add and alkaline material such as sodium bicarbonate. Water contact causes the combination to effervesce. Skin benefit agents and a dry surfactant may be formulated within the composition.
Maintenance of product stability is a major challenge with this product form.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,390 suggests that the wiping article or pillow be packaged within a moisture impermeable outer package such as a laminated foil bag to prevent activation of the effervescent system during storage.
While working with the disclosed system, the present applicants found that outer packaging for moisture penetration prevention aggravated another problem. Adventitious moisture within the formulation, rather than merely seepage from the environment, caused a certain level of effervescence to occur. Carbon dioxide gases were thus generated. The outer packaging intended as a moisture barrier now represented a hindrance to elimination of built up carbon dioxide gases.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an outer package for a pouch containing an effervescent composition wherein the package not only will prevent moisture from penetrating to the composition but allows for release of any carbon dioxide gases which may be generated during storage.
Other objects of the present invention would become more readily apparent from consideration of the following summary and detailed description.
It is to be noted that the subsequently described invention is broader than the objects or technical problems it is directed to solve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A package cosmetic article is provided for cleansing body surfaces, the article including:
a pouch formed of walls, with at least one of the walls being water permeable, the pouch being sealed along all its perimeter; and
an effervescent cleanser composition in the form of an anhydrous dry solid being positioned within the pouch, the composition including:
(i) from about 1 to about 80% of an alkali material; and
(ii) from about 0.5 to about 80% of an acid material;
wherein the pouch is sealed within an outer package formed of a film having breathability for carbon dioxide.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It has been discovered through the present invention that outer packaging for cosmetic effervescent articles based on reaction of alkaline and acid materials must not only be a barrier protection from water vapor but also must be a breathable material allowing escape of any generated gases, especially carbon dioxide. Thus, the invention provides a sealed outer packaging material formed of a film having breathability. For purposes of this invention, breathability can be measured by ASTM D3985 intended to measure oxygen permeability but also useful for correlation to carbon dioxide permeability. When operated at 23° C./0% Relative Humidity, carbon dioxide gas permeability should range from about 100 to about 3,000, preferably from about 150 to about 2,000, more preferably from about 200 to about 1500 cc per 100 square inches per 24 hours. Among preferred materials for the outer sealing package film are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and polycarbonate. Polypropylene is most preferred. The materials may be employed as a single layer or as a series of laminated layers. Some of the layers may be formed of a material other than the preferred types, but with proviso that the composite film meets the requirement for carbon dioxide breathability. Film thicknesses may range anywhere from about 0.1 to about 5 mil, preferably from about 0.5 to about 3 mil, optimally from about 1 to about 2.5 mil.
Another feature of films suitable for the outer package material is that they have a Vapor Transmission Rate for water according to DIN 53122 (measured at 23° C./85% Relative Humidity) which ranges from about 0.001 to about 0.3, preferably from about 0.005 to about 0.1, more preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.1 grams per 100 square inches per 24 hours.
Most preferably, the film for the outer package material will be transparent. The sachet article will be viewable by a consumer through the transparent outer package. Aesthetics are therefore improved. Heat seals or adhesives may be employed along edges of the film to ensure a good seal.
Cosmetic wiping articles of the present invention when contacted with water billow to many times (more than 10 but often more than 40 times) their dry size when activated by water. The effervescent cleansing system exudes copious amounts of lather. A plumped “pillow” arises from the effervescent action. By careful control of the acidic and alkaline components, a squeaky clean rinsed feeling is felt on a user's skin.
A component of compositions for generating effervescence within the pouch is that of an acidic material. Suitable for this purpose are any adds present in dry solid form. Especially appropriate are C
2
-C
20
organic mono- and poly-carboxylic adds and especially alpha- and beta-hydroxycarboxylic acids; C
2
-C
20
organophosphorus acids such as phytic acid; C
2
-C
20
organosulfur acids such as toluene sulfonic add; and peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide. Typical hydroxycarboxylic acids include adipic, glutaric, succinic, tartaric, malic, maleic, lactic, salicylic and citric acids as well as acid forming lactones such as gluconolactone and glucarolactone. Most preferred is citric acid. Also suitable as acid material may be encapsulated acids. Typical encapsulating material may include water soluble synthetic or natural polymers such as polyacrylates (e.g. encapsulating polyacrylic acid), cellulosic gums, polyurethane and polyoxyalkylene polymers. By the term “acid” is meant any substance which when dissolved in deionized water at 1% concentration will have a pH of less than 7, preferably less than 6.5, optimally less than 5. These adds preferably at 25° C. are in solid form, i.e. having melting points no less than 25° C. Concentrations of the add should range from about 0.5 to about 80%, preferably from about 10 to about 65%, optimally from about 20 to about 45% by weight of the total composition.
Another component for generating the effervescent compositions of this invention within the pouch is that of an alkaline material. The alkaline material is a substance which can generate a gas such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen or oxygen, i.e. effervesce, when contacted with water and the acidic material. Suitable alkaline materials are anhydrous salts of carbonates and bicarbonates, alkaline peroxides (e.g. sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate) and azides (e.g. sodium azide). Preferably the alkaline material is sodium or potassium bicarbonate. Amounts of the alkaline material may range from about 1 to about 80%, preferably from about 5 to about 49%, more preferably from about 15 to about 40%, optimally from about 25 to about 35% by weight of the total composition.
By the term “anhydrous” is meant the presence of no more than 10%, preferably no more than 3.5% and optimally no more than 1% water by weight of the total composition. Water of hydration is not considered to be water for purposes of the anhydrous definition. However, it is preferred to minimize, preferably to eliminate any water of hydration.
Advantageously the combined amount of acidic and alkaline materials will be at least about 1.5%, preferably from about 40 to about 95%, optimally from about 60 to about 80% by weight of the total compositio

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