Method and apparatus for testing semisolid materials

• US 20050081607A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wyeth (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wyeth (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul J., Cook, Graham D., Patel, Bhalchandra S., Kenny, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US10/961,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20050081607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/54.230
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/02 Measuring coefficient of friction between materials testing of tyres G01M17/02; determinations of friction coefficient used in vehicle braking or traction control systems B60T8/172
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/56 Investigating resistance to wear or abrasion
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 5/00 Analysing materials by weighing, e.g. weighing small particles separated from a gas or liquid G01N9/00 takes precedence ; weighing per se G01G

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assessing characteristics of a semisolid material is provided. The method and apparatus are particularly well suited for the testing of semisolid cosmetic products in stick form such as lipsticks, lip salves, and deodorant sticks. The method includes testing the rate of deposition of the semisolid material onto a substrate when a test sample of the material is moved against the substrate under controlled conditions. The method also includes measuring the drag on a test sample of the material when the test sample is moved against the substrate under controlled conditions. The illustrated testing apparatus permits a researcher to perform these tests on a test sample. The testing results in qualitative, reproducible data which can be used to compare different batches of the semisolid materials for consistency, and which can be correlated with qualitative human test panel data about the semisolid material for research and development purposes.

Claims

1. A method of measuring properties of a semisolid material comprising:

contacting a test sample of the semisolid material against a substrate with a known force between the test sample and the substrate;

moving the test sample relative to the substrate with a known displacement of the test sample relative to the substrate to deposit some of the semisolid material from the test sample onto the substrate; and

determining the amount of semisolid material that has been removed from the test sample and deposited onto the substrate.

2. A method of measuring properties of a semisolid material comprising:

contacting a test sample of the semisolid material against a substrate with a known force between the test sample and the substrate;

moving the test sample relative to the substrate to deposit some of the semisolid material from the test sample onto the substrate; and

while the test sample is moving relative to the substrate, measuring the drag force imposed on the test sample by its movement relative to the substrate and by its contact with the substrate.

3. An apparatus for measuring the properties of a semisolid material comprising:

a base assembly;

a holder which holds a test sample of the semisolid material positioned above the base assembly;

a substrate positioned between the base assembly and the holder for moving relative to the test sample, the test sample and the substrate being in contact with one another;

wherein, when the substrate and the test sample move relative to one another, a portion of the semisolid material is deposited upon the substrate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a test arm assembly attached to the base assembly, the holder being attached to the test arm assembly;

wherein the substrate moves relative to the base assembly, thereby resulting in a movement of the substrate relative to the holder in a first direction; and

wherein the test arm assembly is adapted for movement relative to the substrate in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.