FR2691067A1 - External article for absorbing menstrual fluid - contains antimicrobial and odour masking agent dissolved or suspended in low volatility solvent - Google Patents

Abstract

Article for absorbing menstrual fluids comprises a sheet of absorbent material in which is incorporated a mixt. of a bacteriostatic and/or fungistatic agent (I) and/or agent (II) which masks body odour. These agents are suspended or dissolved in a low volatility solvent. (I) is partic. a phenolic cpd., esp. usnic acid (Ia) or one of its inorganic or organic salts, and (II) is esp. 'Fragrance 10639' (Lautier), with ratio (I): (II) 15:1-1:5. The absorbant material is a natural or synthetic hydrophilic polymer. ADVANTAGE - These articles effectively inhibit bacterial growth and development of odour. They are simpler to make than articles described in FR88. 16654, and a wider variety of articles can be produced.

Description

NEW ARTICLE OF HYGIENE FOR EXTERNAL USE
AND 9oN PRODUCTION SITE
The present invention relates to hygiene articles made of absorbent material and in particular feminine hygiene articles for external use.

It relates more particularly to absorbent feminine hygiene articles, having, in addition, bacteriostatic and / or antifungal activity and intended for periodic protection.

It specifically relates to absorbent hygienic articles providing periodic protection, preferably external, characterized in that the absorbent material from which they are formed contains a mixture of a bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent on the one hand, and / or a agent for masking body odors on the other hand, dispersed in a non-volatile hydrophilic solvent adhering to the absorbent material.

For a long time taboo universe, the feminine hygiene market has evolved a lot in recent years.

Lifestyle changes: more active women ...

work, regular practice of a sport, have led to an evolution in consumers who are becoming more demanding in terms of the quality and effectiveness of hygiene products.

In its French patent application No. 88.16654, the applicant company has already described feminine hygiene articles intended for external use formed of three layers of cellulosic material, folded over a sheet of absorbent hydrophilic material, itself sealed at one end by heat sealing and impregnated with a solution containing a bacteriostatic and fungistatic agent and an agent which captures body odors.

The present application aims to significantly improve the qualities of the product thus produced by simplifying its production and by diversifying the nature of the products used.

Thus, instead of the product previously produced in three layers of cellulosic material (Trifolding), it has been found that a significantly improved product can be produced when it is produced in a single layer, unwound or molded.

It was also found that the protective product could be made of another absorbent material than cellulose pulp. Other materials were perfectly suitable for solving the technical problem posed.

It has also been found that the agent which collects body odors can be replaced by an agent masking body odors, that is to say, which includes body odors to make them disappear or transform them into a more pleasant odor.

It has also been found that Usnic acid or its salts, used as a fungistatic and bacteriostatic agent, can be replaced by another bacteriostatic and antifungal agent or by a mixture of a bacteriostatic agent and a fungicidal agent.

It was finally determined that the impregnation or imbibition process described in application 88.16614 could advantageously be replaced by a process according to which the bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent could be incorporated into the absorbent material in the form of microcapsules, microbeads or microdroplets adhering to the fibrous texture of the absorbent material by incorporation or by absorption or by impregnation of the absorbent fiber.

In particular, microcapsules containing a solution or a dispersion containing the bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent and the odor-masking agent in a gelatin envelope could be deposited or coated on or in the support and thus, this or these products could diffuse more slowly as and when dissolved, in the absorbent material without risk of irritation or intolerance by the skin or mucous membranes. The gelatin microcapsules can, if necessary, be hardened by a tanning agent such as formalin or a hardening agent such as glutaric aldehyde so as to delay or prolong the diffusion of the active principle (s) contained in the liquid phase of the microcapsule. in this way, the microcapsules are broken down in contact with body fluids and in a sufficiently prolonged manner that the effectiveness of the principles incorporated therein is appreciably increased or prolonged.

Some women are sensitive to the odor problem associated with menstrual flow. This observation must take into account the particular psychological context linked to the onset of menstruation. A rational basis for this assertion is however possible.

In fact, odors come from compounds present in natural secretions, which can produce or supply substances which will be used as substrates for the metabolism of bacteria.

Thus, any substance capable of slowing down bacterial and fungal development is capable of slowing down or suppressing the production of odorous substances essentially originating from the metabolism of microorganisms.

The odor of substances independent of the metabolism of microorganisms will be trapped by an odor sensor.

There is little work on the menstrual bacterial population, but it can be deduced by extrapolation of the vaginal flora.

This is why the present invention proposes to solve this problem of odor, absorption efficiency and discretion of the hygiene article by a new solution.

The solution was to make protective articles intended preferably for external protection such as periodical towels, tampons or panty liners containing a bacteriostatic and fungistatic substance capable of stopping microbial development and a substance, perfumed or no, likely to mask body odors.

The choice of the bacteriostatic substance requires verification of the absence of toxicity, of perfect skin tolerance and of the absence of the risk of allergy. It was therefore necessary to choose from the many known bacteriostatic agents, a product meeting these essential conditions. Preparations based on phenolic compounds meet these three primary conditions and this explains the choice that was made.

A second selection criterion is the ability to disperse the bacteriostatic product in an organic solvent soaking up the absorbent material and the fact that it is not very volatile. This is the reason why we preferably chose a nonaqueous extract of alpine moss titrated in Usnic acid or an organic base salt of the acid.
Usual like the salt of diethylamine or triethylamino ethanol. These products are soluble in organic solvents. Their solutions are not very acidic and have a pH close to neutral. They are neither toxic nor irritating and are perfectly tolerated by the skin. The solvent used is for example a glycol and the preferred solutions are solutions titrated respectively to 8% in (+) usnic acid in dipropylene glycol and 7.5% in (+) acid, in propylene glycol.

The odor masking agent is a chemical substance or a mixture of chemical substances preferably of natural origin, non-toxic, perfumed or unscented, which has the property of attenuating or making disappear the clean odor of the secretions in l 'encompassing in another smell. It is not a deodorant, nor an antiperspirant substance whose use would risk. to be badly tolerated or even dangerous because many of these products are caustic.

The agent masking odors has the ability to have by itself, a light or weak odor, with a fresh note while being discreet but which combines with body odor to annihilate it and make it disappear. There is an impression of softness and well-being. The odor sensor is therefore much more a pleasant mood factor rather than a fragrance. Furthermore, it is not a fragrance substance.

The organic solvent capable of impregnating the material and of dispersing the antibacterial agent and the odor masking agent is preferably a glycol or a glycol derivative. These are chemically inert products, very little toxic, good solvents and whose impregnation power is very satisfactory and very remanent.

Mention may be made, in this regard, of propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, -dimethyl isosorbide, tripropylene glycol, glycerin, diglycerin, monopropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol. The conditions to be fulfilled for such an agent are good dispersing power for the bacteriostatic and fungistatic agent, and for the odor masking agent, a relatively low viscosity to allow impregnation, a high imbibition power, a significant remanence. and an absence of irritant power. Propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol are the preferred agents in this regard.

The odor masking agent which best meets the criteria of freshness and effectiveness is a preparation called Fragrance 10639 marketed by the company LAUTIER Sk. However, other formulations which also satisfy the conditions set out above may as well be used. Likewise, odor-masking products, unscented, can also be used, such as chlorophyllin or other colorless derivatives of chlorophyle.

The relative proportions of bacteriostatic agent and odor-capturing agent can vary within wide proportions and in particular between 15 parts of bacteriostatic agent to 1 part of odor masking agent and 5 parts of odor masking agent for 1 part of bacteriostatic agent. These ratios are determined mainly as a function of the bacteriostatic and fungistatic power of the phenolic derivative used and the masking power of the odor masker used.

The absorbent material is soaked by soaking, spraying, impregnating the material or by aerosolization using a solution of bacteriostatic agent and odor-capturing agent in the appropriate solvent.

The quantity of imbibition mixture per periodical protection article is ensured by spraying the solution in propylene glycol for a determined period. When the quantity of bacteriostatic agent used is from 1 to 10 mg in 7.5% solution, the volume sprayed is of the order of 0.01 to 0.1 ml. Higher or lower amounts of soaking mixtures are possible, they depend on the level of activity of the different types of components.

The useful quantity of bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent varies from 1 to 10 mg per periodical protection article. It is generally 3 to 8 mg for a normal period towel, it is 2 to 6 mg for an ultra-thin period towel, it is 1 to 6 mg for a panty liner and it is 6 to 12 mg for a periodic night towel.

The quantity of odor masking agent is proportional to the weight of the product per periodical protection article. It varies from 0.1 mg to 1 mg per article. It is preferably, for the composition called "Fragrance 10639" from 0.4 to 1 mg for normal periodic towels, from 0.2 to 0.6 mg for ultra-thin periodic towels, from 0.1 to 0 , 4 mg for panty liners and 0.7 to 1.2 mg for periodic night towels.

The invention also relates, by way of new products, to periodical protective articles for external use thus impregnated, constituted by a sheet of absorbent material on which is deposited by spraying or by impregnation of the micro-droplets of the imbibition solution then rolling or forming said impregnated material.

The tampon thus soaked is cut to shape and then covered with a sheet of polyethylene protruding at the ends, placed on the external surface of the tampon and going up on the edges.

EXAMPLE I
Method of making a normal sanitary napkin folded, soaked according to the irwention
Product characteristics Total weight ................ 11 g + 0.5 Total length ............ 225 mm # 10 Pad length .. ...... 187.5 inta + 5 Pad width ......... 65 mm + 5 The two ends are heat sealed and rounded.

Product composition
The absorbent mass (1) is formed of untreated long fiber cellulose pulp (fluff) serving as a drain. Cellulose pulp contains neither optical brighteners nor wetting agents to increase its absorbency.

The solution of usnic acid and of fragrance 10630 in propylene glycol is sprayed on the cellulose pulp at the rate of 0.1 to 1 ml per article.

A polyethylene sheet (2) is placed on the cellulose pad (1) projecting over the ends of the cellulose sheet. The assembly is enclosed in an external nonwoven veil (3), without optical brightener, projecting at each end of the cellulose sheet (1) and substantially the same length as the polyethylene sheet (2). The outer web (3) is folded down towards the center and the two edges of the said web are glued with a line of glue (4) arranged longitudinally so that one of the edges (7) is superimposed on the other edge (9).

The ends of the non-woven fabric (5) are heat sealed, rounding the ends. A permanent adhesive (6) is deposited hot on a silicone protector (7) which is transferred to the surface of the external web.

Other methods can be applied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS The subject of the invention is 1 - Feminine hygiene articles ensuring periodic protection formed by a sheet of absorbent material characterized in that a mixture composed of a bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent and / or a agent masking body odors in suspension or solution in a low volatile solvent, is incorporated into the absorbent material. 20- A feminine hygiene article according to claim 10 in which the bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent is a preparation based on a phenolic derivative. 30- A feminine hygiene article according to claims 1 and 20 in which the bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic phenolic derivative is a phenolic acid or a salt thereof. 40- A feminine hygiene article according to one of claims 1 to  Wherein the bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent is  Usnic acid or one of its salts with a mineral base or  organic.  5 - A feminine hygiene article according to claim 1 in  which body odor masking agent is a substance  chemical or a mixture of chemical substances, odorous or not  odorant, which combines with body odor to suppress it.  6 - A feminine hygiene article according to one of the claims  in which the body odor masking agent is  the product sold under the name Fragrance 10639 by the firm LAUTIER Sk.  7Q- An article of feminine hygiene according to one of the claims  previous in which the organic solvent dispersing agent  bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic is a glycol or a derivative of  glycol.  80- An article of feminine hygiene according to one of the claims  in which the glycol is propylene glycol, the  dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol or one of their ethers.  90- A feminine hygiene article according to one of the claims  previous in which the proportions of bacteriostatic agent  and / or fungistatic to the odor masking agent, varies from 15  for 1 part to 1 part for 5 parts.  10 - A hygiene article according to one of claims 1 to 90 in  which the absorbent material is an original hydrophilic polymer  natural or synthetic.  11 - A hygiene article according to one of claims 1 to 100 in  which the bacteriostatic and fungistatic agent and / or the agent  masking body odor is incorporated into the material  absorbent in the form of microbeads, microcapsules or  microparticles deposited or coated or absorbed on the support.  12 - Method for obtaining an article of feminine hygiene according to one  of claims 1 to 110 in which the solution or the  suspension containing the bacteriostatic and / or fungistatic agent  and possibly the agent masking body odors, is  deposited or introduced in coated or microencapsulated form on  or in the absorbent support.  130- A method of obtaining feminine hygiene article according to one  of claims 1 to 120 in which the absorbent support is  a single or multiple layer consisting of a material arranged  in the form of a tablecloth or in molded form