Abstract:
A towelette article is constructed to include a textile substrate with first and second major surfaces. The textile substrate is impregnated with a liquid solution having a personal care function. The liquid solution includes an aqueous solvent and a dissolved mineral salt. The textile substrate is sealed within a sealed container where the material of the container is effectively impervious to water.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,121, filed Feb. 12, 2010, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is generally related to personal care disposable towelettes and, in particular to a wet wipe towelette impregnated with a natural mineral salt solution and preferably dispensed in a single-use container. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Commercial personal care products, specifically including body care products within the larger category of personal hygiene products, are now widely accepted and broadly used by the general public. The research and development of new products within the body care category has been particularly active over the course of the past decade, if not longer. The intensity of competition is driven by the size, world-wide scope, and growth of the market for personal care products. For example, considering deodorant products alone, a subset of the personal care category, the global market reportedly generated total revenues in excess of $11 billion (US) in 2008, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.7% for the period spanning 2004-2008. The development of new and innovative products is well recognized as essential to continuing competitiveness of companies within this market. 
         [0006]    Among the articles used in personal care products are towelettes, often also referred to as wipes. Dependent on the intended personal care function, the towelette is variously coated or impregnated with different compositions. Generally categorized as dry or wet-wipes, reflecting the feel of the towelette upon use, these towelettes can be used to deliver disinfectants, surfactants, moisturizers, organics including vitamins and enzymes, deodorants, and anti-microbials to, for example, the hands, face, body, and other typically hard surfaces. Substantial effort is made to develop compositions that are dry to the touch, ready-to-use (wet), easily applied, resistant to reverse contamination, perform multiple personal care-related functions, convenient in design and use, specifically effective, and cost efficient. Where multiple personal care-related functions are to be performed, the respective compounds must be mutually compatible and functionally non-diluting, or separated by an impermeable barrier and applied serially. Beyond the complexity, if not inherent contradictions of these goals, the constituent components of these compositions must also be stable over practical time and temperature ranges. Conventionally, substantial research and development effort has and will continue to be made to select and meet differing subsets of these goals that will, in turn, result in a well-received new commercial product. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,871, issued Sep. 18, 1984 to Rockliffe et al., describes a dry wipe system based on use of a water soluble matrix holding a non-aqueous liquid composition applied to or permeating a towelette formed by the matrix or a water stable material. The liquid composition is detailed as a non-degrading solvent of a solute having germicidal, to fungicidal, to insecticidal properties that is also highly soluble in water. The towelette must be contained in a closed, moisture impervious package. Otherwise, the matrix will begin to dissolve and release the liquid composition, contravening the description as a dry wipe. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,418, issued Jun. 1, 2004 to Burford et al., describes a wet-wipe towelette permeated with a multiple component aqueous solution and sealed in a foil packet. The solution includes sodium bicarbonate as a neutralizing buffer for a deodorant co-solute. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,020,927, issued Apr. 4, 2006 to Calvillo, and 7,235,250, issued Jun. 26, 2007 to Padlo et al., illustrate structural systems for maintaining separate otherwise incompatible or undesirably mixed compositions. In the former, a multilayer towelette is sectioned to separate two portions of the towelette that, in turn, are impregnated with different, non-migratory liquid compositions. A peel-off plastic film is added to further compartmentalize the two separate portions of the towelette, thereby allowing folding. In the latter, the towelette is impregnated with a single non-migratory liquid composition applied so as to leave a dry boarder. Multiple component compounds are described as alternate instances of the non-migratory liquid composition. In all, a complex silicone oil, synthetic esters, or hydrocarbon-based chemistry is apparently required to achieve a cosmetically acceptable non-migratory carrier that is further compatible with and includes dissolved surfactants, organic sun screen agents, anti-microbials, or astringents. 
         [0010]    Consequently, a clear need exists for a towelette article that is simple and effective in delivery of a functional personal care agent, such as a deodorant. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Thus, a general purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient wet-wipe towelette article for delivering a personal care agent, such as a deodorant, in a liquid solution. 
         [0012]    This is achieved in the present invention by providing a textile substrate with first and second major surfaces. The textile substrate is impregnated with a liquid solution having a personal care function. The liquid solution includes an aqueous solvent and a dissolved mineral salt. The textile substrate is sealed within a sealed container where the material of the container is effectively impervious to water. 
         [0013]    An advantage of the present invention is that the liquid solution contains a dissolved mineral salt that acts as a deodorant. The dissolved mineral salt has a relatively simple chemistry with at least the presently preferred species of mineral salts corresponding to naturally occurring mineral compositions. 
         [0014]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the mineral salt performs multiple personal care functions. The dominant function is as a deodorant. Secondary functions include acting as an anti-microbial for non-odor causing bacteria and as a mild, topical astringent. 
         [0015]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the liquid solution only requires a purified aqueous solvent and a dissolved mineral salt. No preservative is required. In addition, no moisturizers or emollients are required since the liquid solution is essentially non-irritating to the skin. A fragrance is not required since the dissolved mineral salt, within set concentration ranges, is essentially odorless. 
         [0016]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that the towelette is constructed of a fibrous textile substrate that is woven or otherwise constructed to be substantially hydrophilic. Although the towelette is characterized as a wet-wipe, the towelette textile substrate largely retains the liquid solution until sufficient pressure is applied, generally corresponding to the skin or other harder surface. 
         [0017]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the package and textile substrate can be made of essentially natural, biodegradable materials. The mineral salts are naturally biodegradable. Thus, the convenience of single use is appropriately supported by the low environmental impact of the towelette article upon disposal. 
         [0018]    These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention and corresponding drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wet-wipe towelette folded appropriate for packaging in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wet-wipe towelette packaged in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The presently preferred embodiment  10  of the wet-wipe towelette  12  of present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The wet-wipe  12  is preferably constructed from an organically sourced constituent material to provide a mechanically flexible and porous textile substrate that is substantially hydrophilic. Suitable constituent materials include rayon, cotton, and wood fibers and may be used in any combination. The fibers can be woven or non-woven when creating the textile substrate. In the presently preferred embodiments, the fibers are preferably loosely woven to create a textile substrate with outer surfaces that are soft to the touch with a thickness in the range of about 0.1 to 6 millimeters, preferably in the range of about 0.5 to 3 millimeter, and preferably about 1 millimeter. The fiber weave should be sufficiently loose to provide substantial interstitial space, thereby encouraging absorption, yet sufficiently resilient to readily survive one to a few uses as a wet-wipe towelette. 
         [0022]    In the presently preferred embodiments, the wet-wipe towelette  12  is a 100% rayon fiber material defined by a dry weight of 45 grams per square meter. The preferred size of a single wet-wipe towelette  12  is approximately five by seven inches. This single wet-wipe towelette  12  is preferably impregnated with approximately 3.2 grams of the liquid solution. 
         [0023]    Rayon fiber is preferred in general for its fiber strength and the hydrophobic characteristics of the fiber itself. That is, the interstitial spaces enable a significant volume of a liquid solution to be absorbed by the textile substrate. The surfaces of the textile substrate, however, maintain a relatively dry to the touch feel during simple handling by a towelette user. The combination of the hydrophobic rayon fiber and surface tension of the solution is believed to significantly limit the presence of the liquid solution at the surfaces of the textile substrate. When a greater pressure is applied, typically corresponding to application of the wet-wipe towelette  12  against the skin or other similar or harder surface, a pressure dependent amount of the solution is forced out of the substrate. A degree of reabsorption occurs on pressure release, thereby reducing the feel of wetness of on the skin, including the fingers used in application. 
         [0024]    In the presently preferred embodiments, the liquid solution uses purified water as a solvent and a mineral salt provided as a fully dissolved solute. The mineral salt acts as a hygienically active agent that, in the preferred embodiments, is a deodorant. The mineral salt is preferably chosen on the basis of its hygienic function, the lack of or only incidental interaction with the fiber composition of the textile substrate generally consistent with the discussion above, and the pH of the resulting liquid solution. In the preferred embodiments, the liquid solution will have a pH in the range of about 2 and 8, with a preferred range of about 3 to 7 and more particularly within a range of about 3.3 to 3.8. The presently preferred target pH of the liquid solution is about 3.5. Preferred mineral salt species can achieve this range of pH when provided in solution at a concentration sufficient to provide a commercially practicable degree of hygienic activity. Where the pH of the liquid solution is above or below this target pH, a multiple of mineral salts can be combined to achieve the desired pH. In particular, the natural mineral salt sodium bicarbonate can be used to raise the pH of the liquid solution while other natural mineral salts can be used to lower the pH. 
         [0025]    A preferred mineral salt species will be dissolved in the liquid solution to a concentration of between about 2 and 10 percent by weight and more preferably to a concentration between about 4 and 6 percent by weight. Potassium alum, specifically aluminum potassium sulfate, and ammonium alum, specifically ammonium aluminum sulfate, are the presently preferred mineral salt species. Potassium alum is presently preferred over ammonium alum due to a perceived greater hygienic activity specifically as a deodorant. Both potassium alum and ammonium alum also have hygienic activity as general anti-microbials and, at low concentrations, as mild astringents. 
         [0026]    In the presently preferred embodiments, approximately 5 percent by weight of powdered potassium alum is dissoved in the purified water to form the liquid solution. As found In the practice of the present invention, this preferred lower concentrations of potassium alum results in no requirement to add a pH buffer to achieve a pH within an acceptable pH range. The potassium alum liquid solution, however, tends toward the acidic end of the acceptable range. Accordingly, sodium bicarbonate is preferably added to bring the pH level to within the range of about 3.3 to 3.8. Where a different primary mineral salt is used, producing more alkaline liquid solution, the addition of potassium alum may be used to lower the pH of the liquid solution. Since potassium alum is an active agent, whereas sodium bicarbonate is generally not, the preferred concentration ranges are based on the combined weight of the active mineral salts. 
         [0027]    Also, no additional preservative or fragrance is required. Potassium alum is sufficiently stable and a broad anti-microbial to be sufficient for the intended single-use applications of the wet-wipe towelette  12 . 
         [0028]    The natural odor of the liquid solution due to the added potassium alum and any sodium bicarbonate is minimal to undetectable. The liquid solution used in the presently preferred embodiments consists only of purified water, potassium alum and a minor amount of sodium bicarbonate. However, consistent with the present invention, further embodiments may contain added fragrance, other or additional buffering agents, dyes, emollients, and moisturizers, preferably in low concentrations, preferably of a natural or simple organically sourced chemistry, and generally inert with respect to dissolved mineral salts, specifically including the preferred mineral salt species. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the wet-wipe towelette  12  is preferably inserted into and sealed within a commercially practicable moisture impenetrable package  22 , forming the towelette article of the present invention. The wet-wipe towelette  12  may be folded one or more times prior to insertion. Preferably a single wet-wipe towelette  12  is inserted, though two or more may be included. The liquid solution may be added to the wet-wipe towelette  12  before or after insertion and prior to the package  22  being sealed. Where multiple wet-wipe towelettes  12  are included, the volume of the liquid solution is proportionately increased. Preferably, the package  22  is of a convenient, personal, easily transportable size. The package  22  used for the presently preferred embodiments is a single fold, foil or plasticized-film with a final size of about 2.4 by 3.4 inches. 
         [0030]    In the presently preferred mode of use, the package  22  is torn open and the wet-wipe towelette  12  removed. The wet-wipe towelette  12  can then be used to apply the deodorant active liquid solution to the skin by rubbing the towelette on the axilla, feet, and anywhere else on the body as appropriate to prevent body odors. After one use, the wet-wipe towelette  12  is preferably discarded. 
         [0031]    Thus, a wet-wipe towelette, impregnated with a liquid hygienically active solution appropriate for use as, for example, a deodorant, has been described. While the present invention has been described particularly with reference to a personal care deodorant, the present invention is equally applicable to performing other personal care functions. 
         [0032]    In view of the above description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, many modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.