Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Cosmetic – antiperspirant – dentifrice
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-16
2002-12-10
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Cosmetic, antiperspirant, dentifrice
C402S021000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06491933
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to disposable, personal care articles suitable for cleansing and/or therapeutically treating the skin, hair and any other sites in need of such treatment. These articles comprise a water insoluble substrate comprising a first creped nonwoven layer; and a cleansing component disposed adjacent to the water insoluble substrate, wherein the cleansing component comprises from about 10% to about 1000%, by weight of the water insoluble substrate, of a lathering surfactant and wherein the cleansing component exhibits a log [(&eegr; @ 25° C.)/(&eegr; @ 200° C.)] greater than about 0.45. In another embodiment, the cleansing component additionally exhibits a complex viscosity measured under an oscillation stress of 1 Pa of greater than about 100 Pa·s at 25° C. The articles may optionally include a therapeutic benefit component. Consumers use the articles by wetting them with water and rubbing them on the area to be cleansed and/or therapeutically treated (e.g., conditioned).
The invention also encompasses methods for cleansing and/or conditioning the skin and hair using the articles of the present invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Personal care products, particularly cleansing and conditioning products, have traditionally been marketed in a variety of forms such as bar soaps, creams, lotions, and gels. Typically, these products have attempted to satisfy a number of criteria to be acceptable to consumers. These criteria include cleansing effectiveness, skin feel, mildness to skin, hair, and ocular mucosae, and lather volume. Ideal personal cleansers should gently cleanse the skin or hair, cause little or no irritation, and should not leave the skin or hair with a heavy buildup or overly dry when used frequently.
It is also highly desirable to deliver such cleansing and conditioning benefits from a disposable product. Disposable products are convenient because they obviate the need to carry or store cumbersome bottles, bars, jars, tubes, and other forms of clutter including cleansing products and other products capable of providing therapeutic or aesthetic benefits. Disposable products are also a more sanitary alternative to the use of a sponge, washcloth, or other cleansing implement intended for extensive reuse, because such implements can develop bacterial growth, unpleasant odors, and other undesirable characteristics related to repeated use.
The articles of the present invention surprisingly provide effective cleansing and/or therapeutic benefits to the skin and hair in a convenient, inexpensive, and sanitary manner. The present invention provides the convenience of not needing to carry, store, or use a separate implement (such as a washcloth or sponge), a cleanser and optionally a therapeutic benefit product. These articles are convenient to use because they are in the form of either a single, disposable personal care article or multiple disposable articles useful for cleansing as well as application of a therapeutic or aesthetic benefit agent. Moreover, these articles are suitable for use within or in conjunction with another personal care implement that is designed for more extensive use. In this instance, the articles of the present invention are disposed within or attached to a separate personal care implement that is not readily disposable, e.g., a bath towel or washcloth. In addition, the disposable articles of the present invention may be removeably attached to a handle or grip suitable for moving the article over the surface to be cleansed and/or therapeutically treated (e.g., conditioned).
Most importantly, the articles of the present invention are not only effective at cleansing but are also manufactured more efficiently due to their inclusion of a cleansing component that can be characterized as a “hotmelt”. A “hotmelt” is any material that undergoes a transition from a solid or semi-solid state at a lower temperature, to a liquid or semi-liquid state at a higher temperature (the extent to which can be physically measured rheologically by a skilled artisan). The use of a hotmelt surfactant system, i.e., the cleansing component, allows for benefits such as: 1) speed and ease of manufacture resulting from a one stage liquid tank mixing process; 2) increased processing speed during coating of the articles with the cleansing component; 3) minimal or no drying time; 4) reduced preservative use due to lack of water present; improved chemical compatibility in anhydrous embodiments of the cleansing component; and 5) reduced tackiness and/or strikethrough due to the solid state of the cleansing component at room temperature.
Although in preferred embodiments the articles of the present invention are suitable for personal care applications, they may also be useful in a variety of other industries such as the automotive care, marine vehicle care, household care, animal care, etc. where surfaces or areas are in need of cleansing and/or application of a benefit agent, e.g., wax, conditioner, UV protectant, etc.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the articles are suitable for personal care applications and are useful for cleansing and optionally conditioning the skin, hair, and similar surfaces in need of such treatment. Consumers use these articles by wetting them with water and rubbing on the area to be treated. The article comprises a water insoluble substrate comprising a first creped nonwoven layer; and a cleansing component containing a lathering surfactant or additionally a therapeutic benefit component wherein the cleansing component exhibits a log [(&eegr; @ 25° C.)/(&eegr; @ 200° C.)] greater than about 0.45. In another embodiment, the cleansing component additionally exhibits a complex viscosity measured under an oscillation stress of 1 Pa of greater than about 100 Pa·s. at 25° C. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the creped nonwoven layer of the substrate having these defined properties enhances lathering which in turn increases cleansing and exfoliation, and optimizes delivery and deposition of a therapeutic or aesthetic benefit agent which might be contained within the article.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a substantially dry, disposable personal care article suitable for cleansing, said article comprising:
a) a water insoluble substrate comprising a first creped nonwoven layer; and
b) a cleansing component disposed adjacent to said water insoluble substrate, wherein said component comprises from about 10% to about 1000%, by weight of the water insoluble substrate, of a lathering surfactant
and wherein the cleansing component exhibits a log [(&eegr; @ 25° C.)/(&eegr; @ 200° C.)] greater than about 0.45. In one embodiment, the cleansing component also has a complex viscosity measured under an oscillation stress of 1 Pa of greater than about 100 Pa·s. at 25° C.
In another embodiment, the present invention further relates to a substantially dry, disposable personal care article suitable for cleansing and conditioning wherein the article comprises:
a) a water insoluble substrate comprising a first creped nonwoven layer;
b) a cleansing component disposed adjacent to said water insoluble substrate, wherein said component comprises from about 10% to about 1000%, by weight of the water insoluble substrate, of a lathering surfactant; and
c) a therapeutic benefit component, disposed adjacent to said water insoluble substrate, wherein said component comprises from about 10% to about 1000%, by weight of the water insoluble substrate, of a therapeutic benefit agent
and wherein the cleansing component exhibits a log [(&eegr; @ 25° C.)/(&eegr; @ 200° C.)] greater than about 0.45. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the cleansing component exhibits a complex viscosity measured under an oscillation stress of 1 Pa of greater than about 100 Pa·s. at 25° C.
The present invention also relates to a method of cleansing and additionally conditioning the skin and hair that comprises the steps
Lorenzi Marc Paul
Phipps Nicola Jacqueline
Smith, III Edward Dewey
Dressman Marianne
Howard S.
Kendall Dara M.
Rosnell Tara M.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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