Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Web – sheet or filament bases; compositions of bandages; or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-21
2004-05-11
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Web, sheet or filament bases; compositions of bandages; or...
C424S449000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733773
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Absorbent paper products, such as hand towels are commonly used to absorb fluids applied to the skin of a user during hand washing. The paper products are designed to absorb fluids from the skin and leave the skin dry. However, the soap ingredients often used to cleanse a person's hands or skin can remove oils, lipids, and natural skin conditioners and moisturizers from the stratum corneum of the person, leaving the skin excessively dry and subject to various skin problems, such as erythema, scales, flakes, and fissures. In addition, many people commonly wash their hands in environments susceptible to various diseases caused by the spread or growth of microbes, such as bacteria and viruses.
Various lotions have been developed to inhibit some of the skin problems mentioned above. In particular, these lotions are typically applied directly to the hands of a user when dry to soothe or moisten the skin. For example, one such lotion is sold under the tradename KimCare™ by Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The main ingredients of the KimCare™ lotion include water, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone 200, caprylic/capric stearate triglyceride, C
12
-C
15
alkyl benzoate, steareth-2, steareth-20, phospholipid SV, glycerin, chlorohexidene gluconate, and various other ingredients in trace amounts.
Although this lotion can provide numerous benefits to a user, it was thought that such a lotion could not be readily applied to paper products. In particular, it was thought that a paper product applied with such a lotion could not satisfactorily retain its absorbency characteristics so that it could still be used to dry a person's hands.
As such, a need currently exists for an absorbent paper product that can be applied with a lotion so that a person's skin can be simultaneously dried and moisturized or soothed by the lotion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a paper product that can dry and condition the skin of a user. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a lotion composition is applied to the paper product that contains water in an amount up to about 90% by weight of the lotion, an emollient component in an amount up to about 20% by weight of the lotion, a fatty alcohol component in an amount up to about 50% by weight of the lotion, an emulsifier component in an amount up to about 40% by weight of the lotion, and a skin conditioning component in an amount up to about 60% by weight of the lotion. Typically, the add-on level of the lotion is between about 1% to about 15% by weight of the paper product.
For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the lotion applied to the paper product includes an emollient component (e.g., C
12
-C
15
alkyl benzoate, etc.) in an amount between about 1% to about 15% by weight of the lotion.
Further, in this embodiment, the lotion also includes a fatty alcohol component in an amount between about 5% to about 40% by weight of the lotion. For instance, the fatty alcohol component can include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, or combinations thereof. Moreover, the lotion also contain an emulsifier component in an amount between about 1% to about 30% by weight of the lotion. For instance, the emulsifier component can include at least one emulsifier, such as a polyoxyethylene stearyl ether. In addition, in this embodiment, a skin conditioning component is also included in an amount between about 5% to about 50% by weight of the lotion. For instance, the skin conditioning component, can include a humectant, such as glycerin.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a process for producing a paper product for drying and conditioning the skin of a user is disclosed. The process includes forming a fibrous web, through-drying the web to remove water therefrom, and thereafter treating the dried web with a lotion such that the lotion has an add-on level of between about 1% to about 15% by weight of said paper product. For example, in some embodiments, the lotion can be printed onto the paper web. In other embodiments, the lotion can also be sprayed onto the paper web.
It should be noted that any given range presented herein is intended to include any and all lesser included ranges. For example, a range of from 45-90 would also include 50-90; 45-80; 46-89 and the like. Thus, the range of 95% to 99.999% also includes, for example, the ranges of 96% to 99.1%, 96.3% to 99.7%, and 99.91 to 99.999%.
Other features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS
Reference now will be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In general, the present invention is directed to a paper product that contains a lotion useful for treating a person's skin. For example, the lotion can be an oil-in-water emulsion that is formed from a variety of ingredients. The emulsion includes water, an emollient component, a fatty alcohol component, an emulsifier component, a skin conditioning component (e.g., a humectant), and other optional ingredients (e.g., anti-microbial agents, preservatives, etc.). It has been discovered that the particular selection and amount of ingredients utilized in the lotion of the present invention can provide a synergistic effect when applied to a paper product. Moreover, it has also been discovered that the lotion of the present invention can be applied at relatively low add-on levels to a paper product such that the resulting paper product can remain absorbent. As a result, the paper product of the present invention can dry a person's skin after washing, while simultaneously imparting certain benefits to the skin, such as inhibiting microbial growth, skin disease, excessive skin dryness, etc.
Paper products made in accordance with the present invention can include various types of products, such as towels, wipes, napkins, facial and bath tissue, and the like. The paper product can generally be produced from paper webs having one or multiple layers. Moreover, depending on the desired characteristics, the paper product can contain one or multiple plies where each ply can contain one or more layers. The basis weight of the paper products can vary dependent on the particular application. In some embodiments, for example, the paper product can have a basis weight from about 1 to about 50 pounds per 2,880 square feet (i.e., ream), and in some embodiments, between about 5 to about 45 pounds per square ream. For instance, paper towels can sometimes be formed to have a basis weight of from about 10 to about 45 pounds per ream, and in some embodiments, between about 20 to about 30 pounds per ream. Suitable cellulosic fibers for use in connection with this invention include secondary (recycled) papermaking fibers and virgin papermaking fibers in all proportions. Such fibers include, without limitation, hardwood and softwood fibers as well as nonwoody fibers. Noncellulosic synthetic fibers can also be included as a portion of the furnish. It has been found that a high quality product having a unique balance of properties can be made using predominantly secondary fibers or all secondary fibers.
As stated above, the paper product of the present invention is applied with a lotion that contains a variety of components. For example, the lotion contains water. To ensure that the
Brooks Joann A.
Hsu Jay C.
Shick Richard L.
Wright Audra S.
Dority & Manning P.A.
Joynes Robert M.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
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