EP3033069A1

EP3033069A1 - Cleansing wipes

Info

Publication number: EP3033069A1
Application number: EP14749997.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Iriny BOUTROS
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser LLC
Current assignee: Reckitt Benckiser LLC
Priority date: 2013-08-16
Filing date: 2014-08-04
Publication date: 2016-06-22
Also published as: AU2014307793A1; GB201314690D0; WO2015022495A1; MX2016001818A

Abstract

Cleansing wipes comprising a composition comprising an anionic surfactant and/or a soap, a betaine surfactant, polyquaternium (7) and/or polyquaternium (10), an antimicrobially effect amount of an organic acid, a humectant and a chelating agent. A method of manufacturing a cleansing wipe comprises preparing a first wipe then removing a major proportion of water present to obtain a second wipe. Wipe articles may be obtained that do not have an undesirable or slimy feel on removal from their package.

Description

CLEANSING WIPES

The present invention relates to wipe products which are advantageously used to treat the skin, hair or other dermal surfaces. In a preferred method of use the wipe products are advantageously used in the treatment of hands, face, and/or other parts of the human body.

While the use of bar soaps, as well as liquid soaps are widely known and are widely used, the use of such products is often inconvenient. The use of such bar soap, or liquid soap products requires that such product be carried by a consumer, used, and any remaining portion of the bar soap or liquid soap composition be either abandoned, stored, or further carried by the consumer after its use. Also, typically a consumer or is required to you use such a product without the concurrent advantages of a cleaning implement, or such a cleaning implement, e.g., a wipe article must be either provided by the consumer, or be provided at the point of use of any skin treatment operation. Also known to the art are consumer products which include a composition which is impregnated within a wipe article. Such consumer products typically include a wipe article or other cleaning substrate, and having a high proportion of a treatment composition absorbed or absorbed therein/thereon. Disadvantageously, such a high proportion of the treatment composition often results in a wipe article which is difficult to remove from adjacent wipe articles one packaged, and/or which have a undesirable or "slimy" feel after their withdrawn from the package. Such discourage the use of many such wipe products in that they are unpleasant to initially handle. Additionally, the relatively higher proportion of the treatment composition if first applied to the hands, parts of body or other dermal surface, also leads to the swift deposition of an often undesirable, slick or film layer upon a treated surface, e.g, dermal surface. Such is undesirable, particularly if applied to the hands which thereafter are used to activate a source of rinse water, i.e., a faucet which diminishes the grip, and also leaves an undesired, film layer upon a faucet, or other water dispensing apparatus. After multiple uses, such deposits upon faucets or other water dispensing apparatus leave an unsightly build-up and additionally, typically attract dust from the ambient environment, further worsening the overall appearance of a faucet or other water dispensing apparatus. While such might be easily cleaned off, consumers typically are not in the habit of wiping down faucets, or other water dispensing apparatus after each use of such a cleaning article, and again rinsing their hands or other dermal surfaces.

Thus, notwithstanding the plethora available consumer products, there is still a need for improvements in wipe products which are advantageously used in the treatment of hands, face, and/or other parts of the human body.

In a preferred aspect the present invention comprises a cleansing wipe article having adsorbed thereon and/or absorbed within the a wipe substate a skin treatment composition which comprises (or consists essentially of, or consists of) a composition which includes:

0.01 - 7%wt. of an anionic surfactant and/or a soap;

0.1 - 7%wt. of a betaine surfactant;

0.01 - 2%wt. of a Polyquaternium material selected from Polyquaternium 7, and/or Polyquaternium 10;

0.01 - 0.4%wt. of an antimicrobially effective amount of an organic acid;

0.01 - 2%wt. of a humectant;

0.01 - 0.5%wt. of a chelating agent;

0 - 25%wt. of one or more further compositions, constituents are compounds which provide a further technical and/or aesthetic benefits to the soap bars,

q.s., water,

which foregoing skin treatment composition is absorbed or adsorbed into or onto the wipe substrate, wherein the relative mass of the skin treatment composition is about 0.5 - 20 grams (preferably about 5 grams) per gram of dry wipe substrate, and/or is about 15 - 650 grams (preferably about 160 grams) of the skin treatment composition per square meter of the wipe substrate.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for the treatment of dermal surfaces, which method comprises the step of:

dispensing a quantity of a skin treatment composition from a wipe article having absorbed therein and/or absorbed thereon the said skin treatment composition onto a dermal surface in order to provide a cleaning and/or skin treatment and/or antimicrobial benefit to the treated dermal surface.

In a further aspect there is provided a vendible product which comprises: a package or container, preferably which is in the form of a dispensing package or container which includes a resealable opening therein, and one or more, but preferably a plurality of cleansing wipe articles as described herein.

In a still further aspect there is provided a method for the manufacture of a cleansing wipe article as disclosed herein, as well as manufacture of a vendible product comprising one or more cleansing wipe articles as described herein.

These and further aspects of the invention will become more apparent from a further consideration of the following specification.

The cleansing wipe articles comprise a skin treatment composition which is absorbed, or absorbed, therein/thereupon.

The skin treatment composition necessarily comprises 0.01 - 7%wt. of an anionic surfactant and/or a soap. The at least one anionic surfactant may be water soluble anionic sulfonate surfactants and include, but are not limited to: linear C8-C24 alkyl benzene sulfonates; C8-C24 paraffin sulfonates, alpha olefin sulfonates containing about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and C8-C24 alkyl sulfates and mixtures thereof. These anionic surfactants may be present as water soluble or water dispersible salts, e.g., alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium magnesium as well as alkanolammonium salts of any of these aforementioned compounds.

The anionic surfactant may be any of the anionic surfactants known or previously used in the art of aqueous surfactant compositions. Suitable anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to: alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alkyl succinates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, N-alkoyl sarcosinates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkylamino acids, alkyl peptides, alkoyl taurates, carboxylic acids, acyl and alkyl glutamates, alkyl isethionates, and alpha-olefin sulfonates, especially their sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium and mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts. The alkyl groups generally contain about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. These anionic surfactants may be provided as salts of one of these aforementioned compounds, which salts may render them, or improve their solubility or miscibility in water. Non-limiting examples of water soluble or water dispersible salts include alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium magnesium as well as alkanolammonium salts.

In certain preferred embodiments, the anionic surfactant(s) predominantly consist of one or more alkyl alkoxylated ether sulfates, e.g., alkyl ethoxylated ether sulfates or salt form thereof. Such compounds include those which may be represented by either of the following formula I and II as follows:

in which formulae, x has a value of from 1 - 22 inclusive, but preferably has a value of 1 - 10 inclusive, R is an alkyl group having 8 - 18 carbon atoms, and M is a radical or cation which renders the compound water soluble or water miscible, e.g., These anionic surfactants may be provided as salts of one of these aforementioned compounds, which salts may render them, or improve their solubility or miscibility in water. Non-limiting examples of water soluble or water dispersible salts include alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium magnesium as well as alkanolammonium salts. Preferably such one or more alkyl ethoxylated ether sulfates or salt form thereof comprise at least 51%, and in order of increasing preference, comprise 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, and especially preferably 100% (wt% or mol%) of the anionic surfactants present in the skin treatment composition.

An exemplary and preferred anionic surfactant is an alkoxylated lauryl ether sulfate, which is the predominant anionic surfactant present in the treatment

compositions. Ideally, the alkoxylated lauryl ether sulfate surfactant comprises at least 50.1% (%wt. or %mol) but preferably (in order of increasing preference) at least 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 97.5, 98, 90.5, 99, 90.5%. of the total amount of the anionic surfactant(s) present in the compositions. Most preferably, the alkoxylated lauryl ether sulfate surfactant is the sole anionic surfactant present in the treatment compositions. The lauryl ether sulfate surfactant may be provided as a water soluble or water miscible salt, preferably as an alkali metal salt, such as a sodium, or potassium salt. A particularly preferred anionic surfactant is a lauryl ether sulfate commercially available as Texapon® N70 (ex. BASF) which is described to be sodium laureth sulfate (2 mols EO), alternately known as sodium poly oxy ethylene lauryl ether sulfate.

In place or, or in addition to the recited anionic surfactants, the skin treatment compositions may include an anionic soap. Such are typically anionic materials (i.e. alkali metal salts, e.g., sodium or potassium salts) of fatty acids, typically having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms. Further suitable soaps include alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of aliphatic alkane or alkene monocarboxylic acids having about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms. Sodium, potassium, ammonium, mono-, di-, and triethanolammonium cations or combinations thereof, are preferred. The fatty acids used in making the soaps can be obtained from natural sources such as, for instance, plant or animal-derived glycerides (e.g., palm oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, castor oil, tallow, lard, etc.). The fatty acids can also be synthetically prepared. Soaps may be prepared by either direct saponification of fats and oils or by neutralization of free fatty acids. Particularly useful are the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, ricinoleic acid, coconut fatty acid, palm kernel fatty acid and tallow fatty acid, as well as technical grade mixtures thereof. One or more such anionic soaps may be used in the skin treatment compositions. Additionally mixtures of one or more of the recited anionic surfactants with one or more of the recited anionic soaps may be used in the skin treatment compositions described herein.

The identity of preferred anionic surfactants and/or anionic soaps, and the preferred weights thereof are described with reference to one or more of the following examples. The skin treatment composition also necessarily comprises 0.1 - 7%wt. of a betaine surfactant which is, preferably selected from water dispersible and water soluble betaine surfactants. Exemplary betaine surfactants include those which may be represented by the general formula:

CH₃

Rf— N-R₂-COCT

I

CH₃

wherein Ri is an alkyl group containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, or the amido radical which may be represented by the following general formula:

0 H

1 I

R— C-N— (CH₂)_a- wherein R is an alkyl group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, a is an integer having a value of from 1 to 4 inclusive, and R₂ is a C₁-C4 alkylene group. Examples of such water-soluble betaine surfactants include dodecyl dimethyl betaine, cocoamidopropyl betaine as well as cocoamidopropyl dimethyl betaine, the latter of which is particularly preferred. In certain preferred embodiments, cocoamidopropyl dimethyl betaine is particularly preferred and in specific especially preferred embodiments is the sole betaine surfactant present in the inventive compositions.

The identity of preferred betaine surfactants, and the preferred weights of the betaine surfactants are described with reference to one or more of the following examples.

The skin treatment composition further necessarily comprises 0.1 - 2%wt. of a

Polyquaternium material selected from Polyquaternium 7, and/or Polyquaternium 10. The former material, Polyquaternium 7, is poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) while the latter material, Polyquaternium 10 are polymeric quaternary ammonium salts derived from the reaction of hydroxyethyl cellulose with a

trimethylammonium substituted epoxide (alternately, Cellulose, 2-(2-hydroxy-3- (trimethylammonium)propoxy)ethyl ether, chloride). Both Polyquaternium 7, and Polyquaternium 10, are commercially available and are know to be cationic compounds. The preferred weights of the Polyquaternioum materials are described with reference to one or more of the following examples.

The skin treatment composition also necessarily includes 0.01 - 0.4%wt. of an antimicrobially effective amount of an organic acid. Exemplary organic acids are those which generally include at least one carbon atom, and include at least one carboxyl group (--COOH) in its structure and which provide an antimicrobial benefit to the skin treatment compositions and/or the cleaning wipe articles. Derivatives of said organic acids are also contemplated to be useful. Of course mixtures of one or more acids are contemplated as being useful. Exemplary organic acid include linear aliphatic acids such as acetic acid; dicarboxylic acids, acidic amino acids, and hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, hydroxyacrylic acid, alpha-hydroxybutyric acid, glyceric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid, as well as acid salts of these organic acids. Of these, citric acid, sorbic acid, acetic acid, boric acid, formic acid, maleic acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and/or derivatives thereof, e.g., salicylic acid derivatives such as esters of salicylic acid, such as ethylhexyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol salicylate, TEA salicylate, salicylic acid 2-ethylhexylester, salicylic acid 4-isopropyl benzylester, salicylic acid homomenthylester are preferred. Preferred antimicrobially effective organic acids include lactic acid, salicylic acid and citric acid and/or derivatives thereof; particularly preferred of these are salicylic acid as well as salicylic acid and salicylate esters, including octyl, amyl, phenyl, benzyl, menthyl, glyceryl, and dipropyleneglycol esters. The specific identity of preferred antimicrobially effective organic acids and preferred weights and/or weight ranges thereof are described with reference to one or more of the following examples.

The skin treatment composition necessarily comprises 0.01 - 2%wt. of a humectant. Preferred humectants include sorbitol, hydroxypropyl sorbitol, erythritol, threitol, pentaerythritol, xylitol, glucitol, mannitol, hexylene glycol, butylene glycol (e.g., 1,3-butylene glycol), hexane triol (e.g., 1,2,6-hexanetriol), glycerine, ethoxylated glycerine and propoxylated glycerine. Further useful humectants include sodium 2- pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate, guanidine; glycolic acid and glycolate salts (e.g. ammonium and quaternary alkyl ammonium); aloe vera in any of its variety of forms (e.g., aloe vera gel); hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof (e.g., salt derivatives such as sodium hyaluronate); lactamide monoethanolamine; acetamide monoethanolamine; urea; and, panthenol. Still further humectants include polyols e.g., linear and branched chain alkyl polyhydroxyl compounds having a boiling point of at least 120°C, preferably at least 140°C and yet more preferably at least 155°C at 760 mm Hg (= 1 atmosphere) such as: propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerine and sorbitol. Further exemplary hydrocarbons which may also serve as humectants are those having hydrocarbon chains anywhere from 12 to 30 carbon atoms, particularly, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, squalene and isoparaffins. Particularly preferred polyols useful as humectants are glycerine, glycerol, sorbitol and their mixtures. Glycerine and glycerol are particularly preferred for their use as humectants. Preferred humectants and preferred weights and/or weight ranges of humectants are described with reference to one or more of the following examples.

The skin treatment composition necessarily further comprises 0.01 - 0.5%wt. of a chelating agent. Certain of these chelating agents may also provide a pH adjusting or pH buffering benefit as well. Exemplary useful chelating agents include those known to the art, including by way of non-limiting example; aminopolycarboxylic acids and salts thereof wherein the amino nitrogen has attached thereto two or more substituent groups. Useful chelating agents include one or more of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTP A), ethane-1 -hydroxy-1 ,1 - diphosphonate (EHDP), ethylene diamine- Ν,Ν'-disuccinate (EDDS), nitrilo triacetic Acid (NTA), sodium imino disuccinate (IDS), ethylene glycol-bis-(2-aminoethyl)- Ν,Ν,Ν', N'-tetra acetic acid (EGTA), methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), N-(2- hydroxyethyl) ethylene diamine Ν,Ν',Ν'-thacetic acid) (HEDTA), ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonic acid (EDTMP), diethylene thamine-penta-methylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP), glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), cyclohexane-1 ,2-diamine- Ν,Ν,Ν',Ν'-tetra-acetic acid (CDTA), 1 ,3- propylenediamine tetra acetic Acid (PDTA), ethylene diamine triacetic acid (EDTA), L-hydroxy imino disuccinic acid (L-IDS), trisodium N-carboxyethyl imino succinate (CEIS), sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), thethylene tetramine hexaacetic acid (TTHA). Other preferred chelating agents are succinates, e.g., trisodium ethylene diamine disuccinate, tetra-sodium imino disuccinate, glutamic acid-Ν,Ν diacetic acid tetra sodium salt, 2-hydroxyethyl iminodiacetic acid, sodium salt (disodium ethanol diglycinate), tetrasodium 3- hydroxy-2,2 imino

disuccinate, trisodium methylglycine diacetic acid, L- aspartate-N,N-diacetic acid tetrasodium salt. Particularly preferred chelating agents include acids and salts, especially the sodium and potassium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid,

diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid, and of which the sodium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid may be particularly

advantageously used. Such particularly preferred chelating agents are highly effective, available low-cost, and are generally mild to the skin and other topical surfaces.

The final essential constituent of the skin treatment compositions is water. Water comprises at least 70% wt, preferably at least 75%wt. of the skin treatment

compositions. The water may be from any suitable source including available tap water such as from a municipal water supply, reservoir or well, as well as deionized, demineralized, or distilled water. Deionized, demineralized, or distilled water a particularly preferred as reducing the quantity of undesirable impurities which may be present The water is provided in quantum sufficient ("q.s.") in order to provide 100%wt. of the skin treatment composition. It is to be understood that a major proportion of the water initially present in the skin treatment compositions is driven off or otherwise removed during the manufacture of the cleansing wipe articles of the invention.

The skin treatment compositions may optionally comprise, as a cumulative total, up to 5%wt. of one or more further compositions, constituents are compounds which provide a further technical and/or aesthetic benefits to the cleansing wipe articles disclosed herein. Such differ from the foregoing essential constituents. Such optional constituents include additives and adjuvants which are conventional in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermatological field, such as further surfactants other than those listed as essential constituents, emulsifiers, emollients, skin conditioning agents, preservatives, antioxidants, solvents especially organic solvents, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers, chelating agents, fragrances or other materials which provide an aromatherapy benefit, fillers, preservatives, dyestuffs or colorants, opacifiers, as well as light stabilizers including UV absorbers. Optionally the skin treatment compositions may include one or more further anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants in addition to those disclosed above as essential constituents.

The skin treatment compositions of the invention may optionally comprise one or more emollients which provide softness to the largely aqueous topical antimicrobial cleaning compositions. Non-limiting examples of useful emollients include those, for example, compounds based on Guerbet alcohols based on fatty alcohols containing 6 to 18 and preferably 8 to 10 carbon atoms and other additional esters, such as myristyl myristate, myristyl palmitate, myristyl stearate, myristyl isostearate, myristyl oleate, and the like, esters of Cis-38 alkyl-hydroxycarboxylic acids with linear or branched C₆-22 fatty alcohols, more especially dioctyl malate, esters of linear and/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols (for example propylene glycol, dimer diol or trimer triol), triglycerides based on Cs-io fatty acids, liquid mono-, di- and triglyceride mixtures based on C₆-i8 fatty acids, esters of C₆-22 fatty alcohols and/or Guerbet alcohols with aromatic carboxylic acids, more particularly benzoic acid, esters of C_2-12 dicarboxylic acids with polyols containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, vegetable oils, branched primary alcohols, substituted cyclohexanes, linear and branched C₆-22 fatty alcohol carbonates such as, for example, dicaprylyl carbonate (commercially available as Cetiol® CC), Guerbet carbonates based on fatty alcohols containing 6 to 18 and preferably 8 to 10 carbon atoms, esters of benzoic acid with linear and/or branched C₆-22 alcohols (for example, a product commercially available as Finsolv® TN), linear or branched, symmetrical or nonsymmetrical dialkyl ethers containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group such as, for example, dicaprylyl ether (commercially available as Cetiol® OE), ring opening products of epoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols and hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof (commercially available as Cetiol® DD), propylheptyl caprylate (commercially available as Cetiol® SenSoft).

Optionally, the skin treatment compositions of the invention may include one or more organic solvents, (although in certain particularly preferred embodiments, organic solvents are expressly excluded.) By way of non-limiting example exemplary organic solvents which may be included in the inventive compositions include those which are at least partially water-miscible such as alcohols (e.g., low molecular weight alcohols, such as, for example, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, and the like), glycols (such as, for example, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, and the like), water-miscible ethers (e.g. diethylene glycol diethylether, diethylene glycol dimethylether, propylene glycol dimethylether), water-miscible glycol ether (e.g. propylene glycol monomethylether, propylene glycol mono ethylether, propylene glycol monopropylether, propylene glycol monobutylether, ethylene glycol monobutylether, dipropylene glycol monomethylether, diethyleneglycol monobutylether), lower esters of monoalkylethers of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol (e.g. propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate), and mixtures thereof.

One preferred optional constituent is a preservative constituent. Exemplary useful preservatives include compositions which include parabens, including methyl parabens and ethyl parabens, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropoane-l,3-diol, 5- chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one, and mixtures thereof. One exemplary composition is a combination 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin- 3 -one and 2-m ethyl -4-isothiazolin-3 -one where the amount of either component may be present in the mixture anywhere from 0.001 to 99.99 weight percent, based on the total amount of the preservative. For reasons of availability, the most preferred preservative are those commercially available preservative comprising a mixture of 5-chloro-2- methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-m ethyl -4-isothiazolin-3 -one marketed under the trademark KATHON® CG/ICP as a preservative composition presently commercially available from Rohm and Haas (Philadelphia, PA). Further useful preservative compositions include KATHON® CG/ICP II, a further preservative composition presently commercially available from Rohm and Haas (Philadelphia, PA), PROXEL® which is presently commercially available from Zeneca Biocides (Wilmington, DE), SUTTOCIDE® A which is presently commercially available from Sutton Laboratories (Chatam, NJ) as well as TEXTAMER® 38 AD which is presently commercially available from Calgon Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA). When present, the optional preservative constituent should not exceed about 3%wt. of the skin treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective.

The skin treatment compositions may include a fragrance constituent, which may be based on natural and synthetic fragrances and most commonly are mixtures or blends of a plurality of such fragrances, optionally in conjunction with a carrier such as an organic solvent or a mixture of organic solvents in which the fragrances are dissolved, suspended or dispersed. When present in a such a composition, the fragrance constituent may be present in any effective amount such that it can be discerned by a consumer of the cleansing wipes, however is advantageously present in amounts of up to about 5%wt, preferably from about 0.00001%wt. to about 1.5%wt, most preferably from about

0.0001%wt. to 0.25%wt. based on the total weight of the skin treatment composition of which it forms a part.

The skin treatment compositions may include one or more colorants, e.g, dyes or pigments which are known to the art be useful in cosmetic or topical compositions which may be used to impart a desired color or tint to the inventive skin treatment compositions. When present, such colorants may be present in any effective amount such that it can be discerned by a consumer of the cleansing wipes, however is advantageously present in amounts of up to about 1.5%wt, preferably from about 0.00001%wt. to about 1.0%wt of Further optional constituents which may be advantageously included in the skin treatment composition is a pH adjusting agent, which may be used to adjust, and/or buffer the pH of the skin treatment composition. Essentially any material which may increase or decrease the pH of the skin treatment composition is suitable as a pH adjusting agent. Suitable pH adjusting agents are one or more acids and/or bases whether such be based on organic and/or inorganic compounds or materials. By way of non-limiting example, pH adjusting agents include phosphorus containing compounds, monovalent and polyvalent salts such as of silicates, carbonates, and borates, certain acids and bases, tartrates and certain acetates. Further exemplary pH adjusting agents include mineral acids, basic compositions, and organic acids, which are typically required in only minor amounts. Further exemplary and useful pH adjusting agents include monoalkanolamines, dialkanolamines, trialkanolamines, and alkylalkanolamines such as alkyl- dialkanolamines, and dialkyl-monoalkanolamines. Such may also function as detersive surfactants. The alkanol and alkyl groups are generally short to medium chain length, that is, from 1 to 7 carbons in length. By way of further non-limiting example, pH buffering agents also include the alkali metal phosphates, polyphosphates,

pyrophosphates, triphosphates, tetraphosphates, silicates, metasilicates, polysilicates, carbonates, hydroxides, and mixtures of the same. Certain salts, such as the alkaline earth phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, can also function as buffers. It may also be suitable to use as buffers such materials as aluminosilicates (zeolites), borates, aluminates and certain organic materials such as gluconates, succinates, maleates, citrates, and their alkali metal salts. It is to be noted that certain of the pH adjusting agents may also provide a chelating benefit as well.

When present, the one or more optional pH adjusting agents/pH buffers are included in amounts which are effective in establishing and/or maintaining the pH of a skin treatment composition at or within a desired pH value or range of pH values.

Preferably the pH of the skin treatment composition is in the range of 4 - 9.5.

Advantageously the one or more pH adjusting agents, comprise from about 0.001 - 2.5%wt, preferably from about 0.01 - 1.5%wt. of the skin treatment composition of which the one or more pH adjusting agents form a part.

A further optional constituent of the invention is a fragrance. Fragrances may be based on natural and synthetic fragrances and most commonly are mixtures or blends of a plurality of such fragrances, optionally in conjunction with a carrier such as an organic solvent or a mixture of organic solvents in which the fragrances are dissolved, suspended or dispersed. When present in a composition, the fragrance constituent may be present in any effective amount such that it can be discerned by a consumer of the cleansing wipe, however is advantageously present in amounts of up to about 5%wt, preferably from about 0.00001%wt. to about 1.5%wt. of the skin treatment composition.

Optionally the skin treatment composition may further include one or more skin benefit agents which may be used to promote an improved skin feel, or to improve skin health or appearance. Such include but are not limited to lipids such as cholesterol, ceramides, and pseudoceramides; sunscreens such as cinnamates; exfoliant particles such as polyethylene beads, walnut shells, apricot seeds, flower petals and seeds, and inorganics such as silica, and pumice; additional emollients (skin softening agents) such as long chain alcohols and waxes e.g., lanolin; additional moisturizers; skin-toning agents; skin nutrients such as vitamins like Vitamin C, D and E and essential oils like bergamot, citrus unshiu, calamus, and the like; water soluble or insoluble extracts of avocado, grape, grape seed, myrrh, cucumber, watercress, calendula, elder flower, geranium, linden blossom, amaranth, seaweed, gingko, ginseng, carrot; impatiens balsamina, camu camu, alpine leaf and other plant extracts such as witch-hazel, and mixtures thereof, which may be provided to provide a fragrance, an aromatherapy or other benefit to users of the cleansing wipe. When present, such skin benefit agents may be included in effective amounts, and generally if present are not required amounts in excess of about 5%wt. based on the total weight of the skin treatment composition of which it forms a part.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the skin treatment composition necessarily essentially excludes volatile organic solvents, particularly one or more organic solvents selected from: monohydric alcohols, particularly Ci-C₆ monohydric alcohols, especially methanol, ethanol, and the various isomers of propanol and butanol, as well as other volatile organic solvents having a boiling point of up to 120°C at 760 mm Hg (= 1 atmosphere). In the context of the present application, materials identified as examples of humectants, or as carriers for fragrances, essential oils or other optional constituents are not considered to fall within the class of excluded organic solvents. Thus,

"essentially excludes volatile organic solvents" is to be understood as meaning that the skin treatment compositions include not more than 0.5%wt, and in order of increasing preference, not more than 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.25%, 0.2% 0.15% 0.1%, 0.09%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.025%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.005%, 0.001%, and especially not more than 0% of said volatile organic solvents.

In the manufacture of the cleaning wipe articles of the invention, the skin treatment compositions are absorbed and/or absorbed onto a dry wipe substrate, and thereafter, a major proportion the water present in the skin treatment compositions is withdrawn, such as by evaporation, gentle heating, suction, or other operation, thereby retaining the remaining constituents having a vapor pressure greater than that of the water, at the conditions at which the water is withdrawn, absorbed/absorbed upon or within the substrate. A dry wipe substrate preferably has a moisture content of less than 10% wt, more preferably less than 5%wt, prior to the application of the skin treatment compositions thereto. Preferably during manufacture, after application of the skin treatment composition to a dry wipe, at least about 75%, and in order of increasing preference, at least about 80%,, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.5% of the water initially present in the skin treatment composition is removed.

In a preferred embodiment, where the substrate is a substantially planar woven or nonwoven sheet or wipe, the relative mass of the foregoing skin treatment composition prior to the removal of a major proportion ( e.g. >90%, more preferably > 95%) of the water is about 0.5 - 20 grams (preferably about 5 grams) per gram of dry wipe substrate to which the skin treatment composition is applied. In a further preferred embodiment, following the removal of a major proportion ( e.g. >90%, more preferably > 95%) of the water initially present in the skin treatment composition, the skin treatment compositions is about 0.015 - 0.75 grams, preferably 2 - 5.5 grams of the treatment composition per gram of the dry wipe substrate.

Examples of suitable substrates include, without limitation: sponges, wipe articles, towels, cloths, pads and the like. Wipe articles can be of a woven or non-woven nature. Fabric substrates can include nonwoven or woven pouches, sponges, in the form of abrasive or non-abrasive cleaning pads. Such fabrics are known commercially in this field, and are generally substantially planar. Frequently, individual pieces of such fabrics are often referred to as wipes. Generally, such wipe articles are substantially planar in configuration, and have a thickness which is much less (generally at least 10 times less, preferably at least 100 times less) then the length and/or width of the wipe article. As such, such generally planar wipe articles are typically considered to be substantially "two-dimensional" type articles. Commonly such wipes may be provided as individual sheets which are provided as an individual article, or a plurality of folded wipes, or as a web of individual separable wipes joined at regions or lines of perforations and supplied upon a roll and whereby, an individual wipe can be separated from the roll by tearing along such a line of perforations. Such wipes can be resin bonded, hydroentanged, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched or any combination of the former.

Nonwoven fabrics may be a combination of wood pulp fibers and textile length synthetic fibers formed by well known dry-form or wet-lay processes. Synthetic fibers such as rayon, nylon, orlon and polyester as well as blends thereof can be employed. The wood pulp fibers should comprise about 30 to about 60 percent by weight of the nonwoven fabric, preferably about 55 to about 60 percent by weight, the remainder being synthetic fibers. The wood pulp fibers provide for absorbency, abrasion and soil retention whereas the synthetic fibers provide for substrate strength and resiliency.

Surprisingly the cleansing wipe articles of the invention initially appear to be substantially dry to the touch when provided to the consumer and thereby, the undesirable initial "slimy" feel prevalent among many known-art consumer products is avoided. Additionally, as the wipe articles in the invention can be used to provide a useful skin treatment benefit using little, or no water added to the wipe article and/or applied to a hands or other dermal surfaces to which the wipe article is thereafter contacted, such provides for a much greater degree of control by the consumer utilizing the cleaning wipe article of the delivery of the skin treatment composition. Such is advantageous particularly where a source of available water to subsequently used to rinse the hand or other dermal surfaces is unavailable, or available only in limited quantities. Further, it is observed that following the removal of the majority of the water from the initial skin treatment composition after it has been applied to a substrate (preferably, a sheet or wipe article), that the resultant cleansing wipes retain a smooth, slightly damp tactile feel and may be used even in the absence of additional water, or rinse water. Advantageously however, a small amounts, or even greater amount of water is applied to wets the hands, or other dermal surfaces prior to, but preferably during the use of the cleansing wipe article in order to express a satisfactory amount of foam or lather on to the treated dermal surfaces. Additionally, such also aids in the release of the antimicrobially effective amount of an organic acid from the cleansing wipe, and thereby an effective

antimicrobial effect is imparted to the treated dermal surfaces.

The wipe articles may be used to provide a treatment benefit to a human or other mammalian body, preferably hands, face, and/or other parts of the human body, e.g, epidermis, and hair.. Such treatment benefits include one or more of: a cleaning benefit, topical application of the skin treatment composition provided by the wipe article to a dermal surface and/or hair, and/or an antimicrobial benefit.

A further aspect of the invention is a method for providing a cleaning and/or providing an germicidal benefit to skin or other topical surface which method

contemplates the topical application of the a skin treatment composition via a wipe article as described herein in a cleaning and/or germicidally effective amount. Preferably according to the foregoing method, a germicidal benefit is provided to the skin or other topical surface to which has been applied a treatment composition present upon on within a wipe article or other substrate. Preferred embodiments of the largely aqueous topical antimicrobial cleaning compositions exhibit good germicidal efficacy of undesired microorganisms, such as gram positive and/or gram negative bacterial, e.g., S.aureus, E.coli, P.auruginosa, as well as E.hirae on dermal (viz., skin, body) surfaces.

Cleansing wipes according to the invention can be produced by first producing a suitable quantity of a skin treatment composition, which is thereafter applied to a suitable substrate, most preferably a wipe to thereafter absorb, and/or adsorb the skin treatment composition within and/or upon said wipe. Advantageously, a role of a substrate is used to produce a plurality of wipes simultaneously. The use of a roll substrate also provides for use of known equipment, processes whereby the liquid skin treatment composition is introduced to the wipe substrate. For example a quantity of the skin treatment composition can be applied by spraying, dipping, padding, rolling, partially immersing, or holy immersing the wipe substrate within the skin treatment composition. Optionally, but may cases preferably, a series of pinch rollers can be used to squeeze the thus treated wipes substrate, in order to limit the amount of the liquid skin treatment composition absorbed and/or absorbed. Thereafter, a major portion of the water is removed, and such is most advantageously inconveniently performed by passing the treated substrate over one or more heated rollers whereby the substrate is in contact for a sufficient amount of time whereby at least 75%wt, preferably, at least 80%, and more preferably about 85%wt. of the water present in the skin treatment compositions is withdrawn or removed, such as by evaporation. Removal of the water can be further facilitated by including auxiliary equipment which may be fans, blowers, which may optionally provide further air streams to the wipe substrate being treated, in order to accelerate the removal of water. The wipe substrate having absorbed or adsorbed liquid skin treatment

composition can also be subjected to reduced pressure, such as a partial vacuum, under which conditions the removal of the water can be facilitated. Any combination of such manufacturing processes and/or conditions may be used. Following the removal of water, advantageously the skin treatment composition of the cleansing wipe article (product) comprises (or consists essentially of, or consists of) :

25 - 70%wt, preferably 44 - 50%wt. of an anionic surfactant and/or a soap;

7 - 22% wt, preferably 12 - 20% wt. of a betaine surfactant;

0.6 - 1.7%wt, preferably 0.9 - 1.25%wt. of at least one Polyquaternium material selected from Polyquaternium 7, and/or Polyquaternium 10;

5.7 - 17.2%wt, preferably 9.5 - 13.2%wt of an antimicrobially effective amount of an organic acid;

5.7 - 17.2%w , preferably 9.5 - 13.2%w of a humectant;

0.25 - 0.85%wt, preferably 0.48 - 0.65%wt. of a chelating agent;

0 - 0.5%wt. of of one or more further compositions, constituents are compounds which provide a further technical and/or aesthetic benefits to the composition,

q.s., water, preferably less than 0.5%wt. water,

the said composition having a pH in the range of 4 - 9, and

wherein the relative mass of the foregoing composition is 0.015 - 0.75 grams, preferably 0.12 - 0.175 grams per gram of dry wipe substrate, and/or 0.5 - 25 grams, preferably 2 - 5.5 grams of the foregoing composition per square meter of a wipe substrate.

One or more cleansing wipe articles may be provided in a suitable package, or the cleansing wipes can be used individually without a package. When provided in a suitable package, a single cleansing wipe or a plurality of cleansing wipes may be provided, and such one or more wipes can be withdrawn as desired by a consumer or other ultimate user from the package and ultimately used to treat a dermal surface. The package may be a single use package, such as a pouch's physical integrity is destroyed upon opening, or may be a resealable package, or by following the removal of one or more wipes, package can be resealed to isolate the remaining cleansing wipes within the package from the surrounding environment. Such packaged cleansing wipe articles provide embodiments of the vendible articles of the invention.

The following examples below illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that these examples are provided by way of illustration only and that further useful embodiments of the invention falling within the scope of the description of the present invention and the claims may be readily produced by one of ordinary skill in the art without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Examples:

Example compositions according to the invention are identified on Table 1. The identified constituents were used "as supplied" from their respective suppliers, which are identified on Table 1, and may have constitute less than 100%wt. "actives" or may have been supplied constituting 100% wt. "active" of the named compound, as indicated below.

The identity of the constituents of Table 1 are more fully disclosed on the following Table 2:

Polyquaternium-7 polymeric quaternary ammonium salt of

acrylamide and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride, supplied as Mackernium 007 ( %wt. actives) (ex. Mclntyre Group)

citric acid (anhydrous) technical grade, anhydrous citric acid (100%wt.

actives)

tetrasodium EDTA (87%) aqueous solution/dispersion of technical or

laboratory grade tetrasodium

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (87%wt. actives) fragrance used as supplied, proprietary composition of its supplier

preservative methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone soft water soft water (deionized, demineralized)

Cleansing wipes were produced by applying 8.03 grams of the composition described on Table 1 to a dry wipe nonwoven substrate material ("N Grade #180710, ex. Ahlstrom Co.) at an initial loading of 8.03 grams the skin treatment composition was applied to the said dry wipe substrate, yielding 160.5 grams the skin treatment composition per square meter of wipe substrate. Thereafter the thus treated substrate was subjected to a drying process, wherein either the substrate loaded with the skin treatment composition is allowed to air dry to remove most of the water initially present, or the thus treated substrate passes over or under a drying station, e.g, one or more heated rollers which induce the removal of most of the water initially present, or other processing equipment, e.g, infrared heaters, microwave heaters, which are similarly effective in removing most of the water initially present in the skin treatment composition loaded onto the dry wipe nonwoven substrate material. In this process, approximately 97%wt. of the water initially present in the composition described on Table 1 was removed. The resultant composition of the skin treatment composition present in the wipe article was as follows:

46.55%wt. sodium lauryl ether sulfate (70%)

15.9%wt. cocoamidopropyl betaine (29%)

11.47% wt. salicylic acid

11.47% wt. glycerine

1.14%wt Polyquaternium-7 0.34%wt citric acid (anhydrous)

0.57%wt tetrasodium EDTA (87%)

11.47%wt fragrance

0.013%wt preservative

> 0.05%wt soft water

wherein the relative mass of the foregoing composition was present at a loading of 4.97 grams per gram of the dry wipe substrate.

The thus manufactured cleansing wipe articles may be retained in a continuous roll form, or may be perforated at one or more regions thereof, or may be cut into individual sheets which facilitate their use. The cleansing wipe articles may optionally but preferably be packaged so that a plurality of wipe articles are provided in a container as a vendible product, which allows for one or more of the wipe articles to be withdrawn from the package and used, as desired by a consumer.

The manufactured cleansing wipe articles were tested by rinsing with a small amount of water to wet the article, and thereafter the wipe article was applied to the hands in a wiping manner to release the constituents of the resultant skin treatment composition onto the skin to provide a cleaning benefit thereto. The cleansing wipe articles initially appeared to be substantially dry to the touch and did not have an initial "slimy" feel. Good foaming and effective cleaning of the hands was observed when used.

Claims

Claims: 1. A cleansing wipe article having adsorbed thereon and/or absorbed within a wipe substrate a skin treatment composition which comprises (or consists essentially of, or consists of) a composition which includes:

0.01 - 7%wt. of an anionic surfactant and/or a soap;

0.1 - 7%wt. of a betaine surfactant;

0.01 - 0.4%wt. of an antimicrobially effective amount of an organic acid;

0.01 - 2%wt. of a humectant;

0.01 - 0.5%wt. of a chelating agent;

q.s., water,

2. A cleansing wipe article having adsorbed thereon and/or absorbed within a wipe substrate said wipe a skin treatment which comprises (or consists essentially of, or consists of) :

25 - 70%wt, preferably 44 - 50%wt. of an anionic surfactant and/or a soap;

7 - 22%wt, preferably 12 - 20% wt. of a betaine surfactant;

5.7 - 17.2%wt, preferably 9.5 - 13.2%wt. of a humectant;

0.25 - 0.85%wt., preferably 0.48 - 0.65%wt. of a chelating agent;

q.s., water, preferably less than 0.5%wt. water,

the said composition having a pH in the range of 4 - 9, and

3. A method of manufacturing a cleansing wipe article, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a skin treatment composition which comprises (or consists essentially of, or consists of) a composition which includes:

0.01 - 7%wt. of an anionic surfactant and/or a soap;

0.1 - 7%wt. of a betaine surfactant;

0.01 - 0.

4%wt. of an antimicrobially effective amount of an organic acid;

0.01 - 2%wt. of a humectant;

0.01 - 0.5%wt. of a chelating agent;

q.s., water,

absorbing or adsorbing the foregoing skin treatment composition into or onto a dry wipe substrate at a relative mass of the skin treatment composition of 0.5 - 20 grams (preferably about 5 grams) per gram of dry wipe substrate, and/or of 15 - 650 grams (preferably about 160 grams) of the skin treatment composition per square meter of the wipe substrate;

drying the substrate to remove a major proportion of the water initially present in the foregoing skin treatment composition, to provide a cleansing wipe article product having adsorbed thereon and/or absorbed within a wipe substrate said wipe a skin treatment which comprises (or consists essentially of, or consists of) :

25 - 70%wt, preferably 44 - 50%wt. of an anionic surfactant and/or a soap; 7 - 22% wt, preferably 12 - 20% wt. of a betaine surfactant;

5.7 - 17.2%wt, preferably 9.5 - 13.2%wt. of a humectant;

0.25 - 0.85%wt, preferably 0.48 - 0.65%wt. of a chelating agent;

q.s., water, preferably less than 0.5%wt. water,

the said composition having a pH in the range of 4 - 9, and

wherein the relative mass of the foregoing composition is 0.015 - 0.75 grams, preferably 0.12 - 0.175 grams per gram the dry wipe substrate, and/or 0.5 - 25 grams, preferably 2 - 5.5 grams of the foregoing composition per square meter of a wipe substrate.