Abstract:
The present invention relates to a roll-on applicator to delivery a body powder composition, especially baby powder, to areas of skin the require moisture absorption. The roll-on applicator provides superiority over shaker powders in that dust clouds and waste are minimized during application. Furthermore, the baby powder can be easily applied as the roll-on applicator glides over skin. Body powder compositions used in conjunction with the roll-on applicator contains at least an absorbent powder and a flow agent.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to roll-on dispensers that can be used to apply body powder to the skin, for example baby powder. A particularly useful application of the present invention is to apply baby powder to all areas of the skin, including diaper areas of babies such that the occurrence of airborne particles during dispensing is reduced.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Parents apply baby powders to the skin of their infants in order to absorb wetness and to prevent diaper rashes. Baby powders typically consist of fine absorbent materials such as corn starch or talc. Most baby powders that are commercially available are packaged in shaker containers. These containers have lids or caps with multiple holes to allow the powder to flow from the container when the package is shaken. The powder can be shaken onto the parent&#39;s hand or directly onto the baby&#39;s skin. During the shaking, a cloud of powder is usually created. This cloud of powder can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. Inhalation of baby powder can lead to coughing, wheezing and vomiting. Additionally, if the inhalation is severe enough, acute bronchitis and pneumonia can result. In addition to its harmful effects on health, the powder cloud also leads to waste since some of the powder is lost to the surrounding environment instead of being applied to the skin.  
           [0003]    Roll-on applicators have been known to be used to deliver various toiletries, in particular they are used to deliver antiperspirants and deodorants. Typically these antiperspirants and deodorants are liquid formulations that can be easily and accurately applied by the rolling ball mechanism. Heretofore, these roll-on applicators have not been commonly used or marketed for the application of solid particulate materials, especially baby powders.  
           [0004]    Thus, there is a need for product that can be used to easily dispense baby powders without creating potentially harmful powder clouds. There is also need for a product that minimizes any waste during the application of baby powder. There is also a need for a product that allows baby powder to be easily applied to the skin, the skin creases and folds which occur commonly in babies, and the diaper areas of babies. The diaper area includes the perineum, buttocks, lower abdomen and inner thighs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention features a roll-on dispenser that can be used to deliver a body powder, e.g., a baby powder. The body powder delivered from the dispenser can be applied to any area of the body which require excess moisture to be absorbed or removed. For example, the roll-on dispensers of the present invention are particularly suited for applying baby powder to the diaper area of an infant.  
           [0006]    The application of the body powder is achieved through the use of a roll-on dispenser having a container, a collar, an applicator ball and a ball seat. Within the container is a body powder that is suitable for use on infants, for example corn starch or talc. When the body powder is applied to the skin, the roll-on dispenser is used in an inverted fashion which allows the body powder to flow from the container and onto the applicator ball. As the applicator ball glides across the skin, the powder dispenses in a free-flowing but controlled and loose manner. Since the powder is applied without severe agitation, for example shaking, the creation of dust clouds and occurrence of airborne particles arising from such dust clouds are minimized. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container with an applicator ball in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 shows a front view of a container with an applicator ball in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 shows a side view of a container with an applicator ball in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 shows a side view of an applicator ball located within a ball seat in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 shows a partial side view of an applicator ball in contact with a ball seat in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    FIGS.  1  to  5  show an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Roll-on applicator  10  includes container  12 , collar  20 , ball seat  22  and applicator ball  14 .  
         [0014]    Container  12  serves as a housing to hold the body powder that is to be dispensed. Container  12  can be in the form of any volumetric geometric shape. Container  12  features base  16  and side walls  18 . The geometric shape of base  16  defines the volumetric shape of container  12 . For example, the shape of base  16  can be any type of geometric shape, for example a rectangle, an ellipse or a circle. Extending from base  16  are side walls  18 . Side walls  18  can extend from base  16  in a perpendicular manner such that side walls  18  are transverse to base  16  or side walls  18  can extend from base  16  at an angle. Angling side walls  18  allow container  12  to assume a tapered shape. Side walls  18  can be smooth or ridged, for example to make container  12  ergonomic.  
         [0015]    Located opposite of base  16  and connected to the top of container  12  is collar  20 . Collar  20  is a circular ring that can be threaded on its outer surface to allow container  12  engage a closure device, for example a screw-on cap or a snap-on lid. For example, a cap can be releasably attached to collar  20  to prevent roll-on applicator from leaking any body powder when stored or in transit. In lieu of container  12 , any other type of packaging as known in the art, for example a bottle can be used.  
         [0016]    Container  12  and collar  20  can be made of plastic, for example polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. Furthermore, the material of container  12  can be pliable or rigid. Also the elements of container  12  can be made as single piece or separate construction.  
         [0017]    Attached to collar  20  is ball seat  22 . The function of ball seat  22  is to allow applicator ball  14  to freely rotate within container  12  and to retain applicator ball  14  within container  12 . Any means known to one skilled in the art can be implemented to design a ball seat  22  to retain applicator ball  14  in container  12  and/or collar  20 . For example, ball seat  22  as shown in FIG. 5 has top end  26 , bottom end  28  and wall  30 . Ball seat  22  should be of a geometric shape that corresponds to the shape of applicator ball  14 . For example, if applicator ball  14  is a sphere, then ball seat  22  takes the shape of a circular ring. Thus, in this example, top end  26 , bottom end  28  and wall  30  are all rings. In order to prevent applicator ball  14  from falling out of container  12 , top end  26  has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of applicator ball  14 . The diameter of bottom end  28  is also smaller than the diameter of applicator ball  14  to prevent applicator ball  14  from falling into container  12  if both container  12  and collar  20  are sized to each have a diameter greater than applicator ball  14 . The diameter of wall  30  is sized such that applicator ball  14  can freely rotate within ball seat  22 .  
         [0018]    Ball seat  22  is made of a material identical to or compatible with the materials used to make container  12  and/or collar  20 . As with collar  20 , ball seat  22  in combination with container  12  and collar  20  can be of a single unitary construction or separate parts.  
         [0019]    Applicator ball  14  is preferably a round ball, but it can also be elliptical or cylindrical or any other shape that allows it to rotate with respect to container  12 . The surface of applicator ball  14  can be smooth or textured. For example, the surface can have grooves or hair-like projections that help the dispersion of the baby powder onto skin. The diameter of the ball can range from about 1.2 cm to about 4 cm.  
         [0020]    Contained within the roll-on applicator  10  is a body powder that is suitable for topical application on the skin, for example a baby powder composition. Preferably, the body powder is not a liquid. The body powder is also preferably anhydrous. The baby powder is composed of at least an absorbent powder and a flow agent.  
         [0021]    Any type of particulate solid that is able to absorb moisture or wetness and safe for use on baby skin is suitable for use as the absorbent powder. Examples of absorbent powders include, but are not limited to, talc, potato starch, oat starch, tapioca starch, legume starch, soy starch, turnip starch, corn starch, rice starch, aluminum starch octenyl succinate, kaolin, microcrystalline cellulose, calcium silicate, amorphous silicas, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, zinc carbonate and mixtures thereof. Corn starch is a preferred absorbent powder. The concentration of the absorbent powder in the baby powder can range from about 95% to about 99% by weight of the baby powder composition. The particle sizes of the absorbent powder is preferably less than or equal to about seventy-five microns.  
         [0022]    In addition to the absorbent powder, the baby powder includes a flow agent. The flow agent increase the flowability or prevents caking of the absorbent powder. A preferred flow agent in the present invention is tricalcium phosphate. Other examples of flow agents can be found in  McCutcheon&#39;s Functional Materials,  1992 Edition, Vol. 2, pp. 11-12, incorporated herein by reference. Examples of flow agents include, but are not limited to tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, silica, calcium silicate, mica and kaolin. The concentration of the flow agent in the baby powder can range from about 0.1% to about 1%, preferably from 0.2% to about 0.5%.  
         [0023]    In addition to the absorbent powder and flow agent, the baby powder can include other ingredients appropriate for topical use. Examples of categories of optional ingredients include, but are not limited to, odor control agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-fungal agents, skin protectants, emollients, moisturizers, anti-oxidants, binders and anti-pruritic agents, fragrances, colorants and preservatives.  
         [0024]    Examples of odor control agents include, but are not limited to, sodium carbonate, charcoal and mixtures thereof. The odor control agent can range in a concentration from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of the baby powder composition.  
         [0025]    Examples of anti-microbial and anti-fungal agents include, but are not limited to, zinc phenolsulfonate, zinc oxide, zinc riconoleate, zinc undecylenate, triclosan and mixtures thereof. The anti-microbial and/or antifungal agents can range from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the baby powder composition.  
         [0026]    Examples of skin protectants include, but are not limited to, corn starch, kaolin, mineral oil, dimethicone, colloidal oatmeal, zinc oxide and mixtures thereof. The skin protectants can range from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the baby powder composition.  
         [0027]    Examples of emollients and moisturizers include, but are not limited to, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol, retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, aloe, vegetable oils, mineral oil, glycerin, propylene glycol, petrolatum, ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbate, jojoba oil, and mixtures thereof. The emollients and/or moisturizers can range from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of the baby powder composition. Also included within the class of emollients and moisturizers are stearates and/or fatty acid derivatives. Examples of fatty acid esters include, but are not limited to, palmitates, oleates, laurates, linoleates, myristates and butyrates. In addition to emollients and moisturizers, other skin feel agents such as nylon, polyethylene and polytetrafluroethylene can be incorporated in the) baby powder.  
         [0028]    Examples of anti-oxidants include, but are not limited to, retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbate, tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate and mixtures thereof. The anti-oxidants can range from about 0.1% to about 10%, by weight of the baby powder composition.  
         [0029]    Binders are substances that help the baby powder to adhere to skin. Examples of binders include, but are not limited to calcium stearate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, dimethicone and mixtures thereof. The binders can range from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the baby powder composition.  
         [0030]    Examples of anti-pruritics include, but are not limited to hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate, colloidal oatmeal, magnesium-L-lactate and mixtures thereof. The anti-pruritics can range from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the baby powder composition.  
         [0031]    Colorants, fragrances and/or preservatives can be optionally added to the baby powder composition.  
       EXAMPLE  
       [0032]    Set forth below in the table is an example of a non-liquid and anhydrous baby powder composition that is suitable for use in the roll-on applicator.  
                                                       Ingredient   Function   % (w/w)                           corn starch   absorbent powder   98.00%            tricalcium phosphate   flow agent   0.25%           diazolidinyl urea   preservative   0.20%           methyl paraben   preservative   0.15%           propyl paraben   preservative   0.15%                      
 
         [0033]    The baby powders of the present invention are prepared by blending the absorbent powder and flow agents in any suitable mixer, for example a vee-blender, a double cone blender, or ribbon blender until the mixture is uniform. Any optional ingredients can also be added to the mixture of absorbent powder and flow agents while they are being blended to form a mixture.  
         [0034]    Once the baby powder is uniformly blended, the baby powder can filled into the containers of the roll-on applicator. The applicator ball is subsequently attached to the container. The roll-on applicator can then be used to topically apply the baby powder to skin, especially occluded skin in the diaper area of a baby that is prone to diaper rash, or other condition resulting from hyperhydration of the skin, for example, heat rash, abrasion, pressure marks and skin barrier loss. To apply the powder, the roll-on applicator with baby powder is inverted and rolled across the skin. As the applicator rolls, baby powder flows from the container and onto the ball. The roll-on applicator gives the user more control as to where the body powder is applied and minimized any creation of powder clouds.  
         [0035]    It is understood that while the present invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the following claims. Other aspects, advantages and modifications are within the scope of the claims.