Patent Description:
There has been known toilet paper to reduce odors generated in a toilet space, the toilet paper always being ready in toilets and having a paper tube to which a fragrance is applied. (refer to, for example, Patent Document <NUM>.

However, there is a limit on the applicable amount of the fragrance to the paper tube of the toilet paper of Patent Document <NUM>.

In addition, among malodor components in toilets, in particular, a fecal odor is a complex odor composed of methyl mercaptan, hydrogen sulfide and so forth. Hence, it has been difficult to mask and deodorize the fecal odor with the fragrance emitted by the toilet paper.

Objects of the present invention include providing toilet paper which suppresses more properly the fecal odor.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention described in claim <NUM> is toilet paper including:.

According to the present invention, toilet paper which can more properly suppress the fecal odor is obtained.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing toilet paper according to an embodiment(s).

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of toilet paper of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawing. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example(s).

Toilet paper <NUM> includes, as shown in <FIG>, a hollow cylindrical paper tube <NUM> and belt-shaped paper <NUM> wounded around the paper tube <NUM> as the core.

The toilet paper <NUM> is usually used as follows: the toilet paper <NUM> is put on a paper holder, and the belt-shaped paper <NUM> is pulled.

Although size of the toilet paper <NUM> is not particularly limited, one having a diameter of <NUM> to <NUM>, a width of <NUM> to <NUM> and a paper tube diameter of <NUM> to <NUM> is common, and this is suitable for the present invention too.

Base paper constituting the belt-shaped paper <NUM> can be manufactured from a raw material for making thin paper containing raw material pulp as the main raw material. The raw material pulp is not particularly limited, and hence appropriate raw material pulp (s) can be used by being selected or mixed according to specific uses of the belt-shaped paper <NUM>.

The number of plies and the basis weight of the belt-shaped paper <NUM> can be appropriately adjusted according to its use, but it is desired to use the belt-shaped paper <NUM> having the number of plies of <NUM> to <NUM> plies, a whole paper thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>, and a basis weight per ply of <NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM>. The basis weight of less than <NUM>/m<NUM> is preferable in terms of increase in softness, but it is difficult to properly ensure strength enough to be used. Meanwhile, if the basis weight is more than <NUM>/m<NUM>, the paper is hard as a whole, and also rough and accordingly harsh to the touch. Examples of the method for measuring the basis weight include a method in conformity to JIS P8124:<NUM>.

The paper tube <NUM> is formed, for example, as a spiral paper tube made of paper-tube base paper being a spiral wound or a parallel wound paper tube.

The paper tube <NUM> is formed of two base paper layers of an inner-side base paper layer constituting the inner circumferential surface of the paper tube <NUM> and an outer-side base paper layer constituting the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube <NUM>.

As the paper-tube base paper constituting each of the inner-side base paper layer and the outer-side base paper layer, base paper having a basis weight of <NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> and a stiffness of <NUM> to <NUM> is preferably used in order to maintain strength. Examples of the method for measuring the stiffness include a method in conformity to JIS P8143:<NUM>. By having the above stiffness, the paper-tube base paper can keep properness to form paper tubes, and also can maintain necessary strength as paper tubes of toilet paper. In addition, Cobb sizing degree (JIS P8140:<NUM>) of the paper-tube base paper is preferably <NUM> to <NUM> so that the paper-tube base paper can obtain appropriate impregnation characteristics to impregnate fragrances.

The inner-side base paper layer and the outer-side base paper layer are joined with one another through an adhesive or the like as needed. Examples of the adhesive include: carboxymethyl cellulose; vinyl acetate; vinyl chloride; and polyvinyl alcohol. The application amount of the adhesive is not particularly limited, but <NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> is appropriate. The above application amount of the adhesive can produce paper tubes having strength which is neither too high nor too low as paper tubes.

In the paper tube <NUM>, a modification fragrance is applied to at least the outer-side base paper layer. In order to keep an aroma for a long period of time, the fragrance is applied to the outer-side base paper layer which faces the belt-shaped paper when the belt-shaped paper <NUM> is wound around the paper tube <NUM>, so that fresh air and the fragrance are less likely to directly contact one another, which is effective in maintaining an aroma.

The modification fragrance applied to the paper tube <NUM> is a modification fragrance which modifies the fecal odor. This modification fragrance modifies the odor containing at least methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide.

The application amount of the modification fragrance applied to the paper tube <NUM> is at least <NUM> mass% but no more than <NUM> mass% to the mass of the paper tube <NUM>. If an application not forming part of the invention is more than <NUM> mass%, the strength decreases because of fragrance leakage from the paper-tube base paper, and accordingly necessary strength as paper tubes of toilet paper may not be maintained.

The modification fragrance is a fragrance which becomes a more pleasant smell when an unpleasant smell component(s), which is generally known as a malodor(s), is added. That is, the modification fragrance has an effect (called matching effect or harmonizing effect) of suppressing a malodor(s) by modifying into a more pleasant smell with an unpleasant smell component (s) being added to the modification fragrance, which itself has a pleasant smell. It is known that there are, among components obtained from plant-derived essential oils or the like, some components which can suppress malodors sensorily (e.g. <NPL>).

The modification fragrance itself contains a floral-note or fruity-floral-note fragrance, and preferably contains one of a rose note, a jasmine note, a green note, a lily note, and a citrus note, such as lemons or oranges, as a modification component.

The modification fragrance in this embodiment is a fragrance which modifies the fecal odor in toilets, to be specific, a fragrance which modifies the odor containing, among components constituting the fecal odor, <NUM> to <NUM> ppm of hydrogen sulfide and <NUM> to <NUM> ppm of methyl mercaptan, and gives the actual feeling of deodorization.

Examples of the jasmine-note fragrance can include the following ones: α-hexylcinnamic aldehyde; methyl dihydrojasmonate; methyl jasmonate; cis-jasmon; hydrocinnamaldehyde; benzyl formate; benzyl acetate; benzyl benzoate; jasminealdehyde; and benzyl propionate. These can be used alone, or two or more in combination.

Examples of the rose-note fragrance can include the following ones: β-phenylethyl alcohol; citronellol; nerol; geraniol; rose oxide; tetrahydrogeraniol; phenoxanol; <NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethyl-<NUM>- cyclohexenyl)-<NUM>-buten-<NUM>-one (β-damascone); phenylacetic acid β-phenylethyl; decyl acetate; geranyl benzoate; <NUM>-phenylethyl acetate; citronellyl acetate; geranyl acetate; nerol acetate; geranyl propionate; formic acid β-phenylethyl; geranyl formate; citronellyl formate; isobutyl phenylacetate; benzophenone; geranyl butyrate; n-nonylalcohol; geranium oil; and rose oil. These can be used alone, or two or more in combination.

Examples of the green-note fragrance can include the following ones: cis-<NUM>-hexenylacetate; cis-<NUM>-hexenol; dimethyltetrahydrobenzaldehyde; p-ethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylhydrocinamaldehyde; ethyl benzoate; bornyl acetate; farnesol; d-α-pinene <NUM>, <NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethyl-<NUM>-cyclopenten-<NUM>-yl)-<NUM>-penten-<NUM>-ol; <NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethyl-<NUM>-cyclopenten-<NUM>-yl)-<NUM>-buten-<NUM>-o l; linalyl acetate; <NUM>-octen-<NUM>-ol; phenylethyl alcohol; methyl anthranilate; and geraniol. These can be used alone, or two or more in combination.

Examples of the lily-note fragrance can include the following ones: linalool; linalyl acetate; ethyl linalool; p-cresol; α-terpineol; phenylethyl acetate; and phenylethyl cinnamate. These can be used alone, or two or more in combination.

Examples of the citrus-note fragrance can include the following ones: citral; isocyclocitral; dihydromyrcenol; bergamot oil; lemon oil; orange oil; limonene; octyl aldehyde; diphenylmethane; methylheptenone; geranial; dipentene; α-terpinene; neral; rhodinal (citrus note); terpinyl acetate; ethyl acetate; butyl butyrate; and sinensal. These can be used alone, or two or more in combination.

Next, results of performance evaluations of manufactured samples of examples and samples of comparative examples of toilet paper of the present invention are shown.

In this embodiment, there were manufactured: samples of the toilet paper <NUM> having the paper tube <NUM> which was manufactured by superposing two paper-tube base sheets spirally and to which a modification fragrance "TJP-<NUM>-<NUM>" (Takasago International Corporation) was applied; and samples of toilet paper having the paper tube to which a conventionally used ordinary fragrance "Fruity Floral" (Ogawa & Co. ) was applied.

The application density of the fragrance was as shown in a Table. Further, the mass, diameter and width of the paper tube <NUM> were <NUM>/tube, <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The basis weight and stiffness of the paper-tube base paper were <NUM>/m<NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The toilet paper <NUM> of each of the samples of the examples, the toilet paper <NUM> having the paper tube <NUM> to which the modification fragrance was applied, and the toilet paper of each of the samples of the comparative examples, the toilet paper having the paper tube to which the ordinary fragrance was applied, were used by <NUM> ordinary citizens in toilets at home, and they made a sensory evaluation about the fecal odor and evaluated the actual feeling of the deodorizing effect with a seven-point scale (felt it very much, felt it, somewhat felt it, neither, did not feel it much, did not feel it, did not feel it at all).

Then, the percentage of the people whose answer was "felt it very much" or "felt it" was calculated.

As a result, it was found that <NUM>% of the testers felt the deodorizing effect of the sample of the example <NUM>, whereas <NUM>% of the testers felt the deodorizing effect of the sample of the comparative example <NUM>. (Refer to Table <NUM>.

Hence, the toilet paper <NUM> having the paper tube <NUM> to which the modification fragrance is applied suppresses properly the fecal odor by being used in toilets.

From the toilet paper <NUM> of each of the samples of the examples, the paper tube <NUM> was taken out, and from the paper tube <NUM>, a <NUM> [g] specimen was cut out. Similarly, from the toilet paper of each of the samples of the comparative examples, the paper tube was taken out, and from the paper tube, a <NUM> [g] specimen was cut out.

As a reference simulative fecal odor were used odor components obtained from a subject under a normal health condition according to <NPL>). More specifically, they were <NUM> ppm of hydrogen sulfide, <NUM> ppm of methyl mercaptane, <NUM> ppm of acetic acid, <NUM> ppm of propionic acid, <NUM> ppm of isobutyric acid, <NUM> ppm of isovaleric acid, <NUM> ppm of valeric acid, and <NUM> ppm of pyridine.

The specimens of the samples of the examples and the specimens of the samples of the comparative examples were respectively sealed in <NUM> polyester bags, and the bags were filled with odor-free air and left to stand one hour. Thereafter, the above odor components were generated in the <NUM> polyester bags with an intensity corresponding to the odor intensity "<NUM>" in the six grades odor intensity measurement method, and change in the odor intensity was measured with the six grades odor intensity measurement method. The number of testers was <NUM>. If the volume of a toilet space is <NUM><NUM>, a <NUM> specimen put in a <NUM> bag simulates a state in which two toilet rolls are placed in the toilet space. As to the evaluation, decrease in the odor intensity by one or more levels from "<NUM>" as the reference, namely, the odor intensity being <NUM> or lower, was regarded to be acceptable. The above test is based on the deodorant effectiveness testing method (sensory deodorization) by Air Fresheners & Deodorizers Conference.

Consequently, the odor intensity "<NUM>" was obtained from the specimen of the sample of the example <NUM> in the six grades odor intensity measurement method, whereas the odor intensity "<NUM>" was obtained from the specimen of the sample of the comparative example <NUM> in the six grades odor intensity measurement method.

The fragrance's application density was examined, and consequently it was determined that the application density of <NUM> mass% had the deodorizing effect as indicated by the example <NUM>, whereas the application density of <NUM> mass% did not have the expected deodorizing effect. (Refer to Table <NUM>.

The strength necessary as paper tubes of toilet paper was examined. Samples in which the paper tube was deformed in the winding machine because of an excessive amount of the fragrance are indicated by "×" (cross), whereas samples in which the paper tube was not deformed are regarded to be acceptable and indicated by "○" (circle).

As a result, as indicated by the example <NUM>, the application density of <NUM> mass% did not cause the paper tube deformation, whereas as indicated by the comparative example <NUM>, the application density of <NUM> mass% caused the paper tube deformation. (Refer to Table <NUM>.

Hence, the toilet paper <NUM> having the paper tube <NUM> to which the modification fragrance having the harmonizing effect is applied suppresses properly the fecal odor by being used in toilets.

As described above, the toilet paper <NUM> having the paper tube <NUM> to which the modification fragrance which modifies the fecal odor is applied suppresses more properly the fecal odor than the conventional toilet paper having the paper tube to which the ordinary fragrance is applied.

In the above embodiment, as the modification fragrance, the "TJP-O-<NUM>" was used. This is not, however, intended to limit the present invention, and hence another modification fragrance may be used.

Further, it is a matter of course that, in addition to the above, specific detailed structures and so forth can also be appropriately modified, within the scope of the invention that is defined by the appended claim.

Claim 1:
Toilet paper product (<NUM>) comprising:
a cylindrical paper tube (<NUM>); and
belt-shaped paper (<NUM>) wound around the paper tube as a core, wherein
a floral-note or fruity-floral-note fragrance is applied to the paper tube, and
the fragrance is a modification fragrance which, in a toilet space, modifies a fecal odor containing at least methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide,
and an application amount of the modification fragrance is at least <NUM> mass% but no more than <NUM> mass% to the paper tube (<NUM>) of the toilet paper product (<NUM>),
whereby the paper tube (<NUM>) is formed of two base paper layers of an inner-side base paper layer constituting the inner circumferential surface of the paper tube (<NUM>) and an outer-side base paper layer constituting the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube (<NUM>), and
whereby the fragrance is applied to the outer-side base paper layer.