Wiping article which exhibits differential wet extensibility characteristics

• US 6,180,214 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Cabell, David William, Nissing, Nicholas James
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Newton
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, JILL M
• Application Number:
  US09/231,002
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 428/195, 428/211
• US Class Current: 428/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1027 Tissues, i.e. thin applicator sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1036 containing a cosmetic substance, e.g. impregnated with liquid or containing a soluble solid substance
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1045 with one or more internal reservoirs, e.g. rupturable microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3266 Wet wipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/45 characterised by the shape cup-shaped type tampons A61F13/2045
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/14 applied in spaced arrangements, e.g. in stripes
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 19/68 uneven, broken, discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 19/74 the substrate having an uneven surface, e.g. crêped or corrugated paper
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 27/008 characterised by inhomogeneous distribution or incomplete coverage of properties, e.g. obtained by using materials of chemical compounds D21H23/02, D21H23/76, D21H27/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 27/34 Continuous materials, e.g. filaments, sheets, nets
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 27/40 at least one of the sheets being non-planar, e.g. crêped crêping or corrugating paper B31F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides a disposable wiping article. The wiping article may be single-layer (single-ply), or multi-layer (multi-ply). At least one layer (the only layer in a single-layer wiping article) is a primary layer and is wet extensible. A discontinuous coating is applied to selected portions of the wet extensible primary layer and cured to form a constraining component which inhibits wet extension of the primary layer in the plane of the primary layer. As a result, the primary layer deforms, such as by buckling or puckering, in the Z-direction (perpendicular to the plane of the primary layer), resulting in increased caliper, bulk, and texture. In one embodiment, more than one primary layer may be used in a single wiping article.

Claims

1. A single layer disposable wiping article comprising:

(a) a primary layer, the primary layer being extensible in the plane of the primary layer when the primary layer is wetted; and

(b) a discontinuous coating applied to at least one side of the primary layer defining coated regions and a plurality of uncoated regions, the coating being less extensible when wetted than the primary layer;

wherein selected portions of the primary layer are constrained by a network of coated regions thereby inhibiting wet extension of the primary layer in the plane of the primary layer, and wherein portions of the primary layer in the uncoated regions exhibit out-of-plane deformation upon wetting, and wherein the article has a wet caliper to dry caliper ratio of greater than about 1.0.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous coating forms a continuous network.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the unbonded regions of the primary layer each comprise an inscribed circular area, and wherein the diameter of the inscribed circular area is between about 0.1 inch to about 3.0 inch.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the primary layer comprises a foreshortened cellulosic web.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein said foreshortened cellulosic web is formed by wet microcontraction techniques.

6. The article of claim 4, wherein said foreshortened cellulosic web is creped.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the primary layer has a wet extensibility of at least about 4 percent.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the primary layer has a wet extensibility of at least about 10 percent.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein the primary layer has a wet extensibility of at least about 20 percent.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein the primary layer has a wet extensibility of at least about 25 percent.

11. The article of claim 1, having a wet caliper to dry caliper ratio greater than about 1.2.

12. A multiple layer disposable wiping article comprising:

(a) a first primary layer, the first primary layer being extensible in the plane of the first primary layer when the first primary layer is wetted; and

(b) a second primary layer joined to the first primary layer in a face to face relationship by a discontinuous coating applied to at least one side of the primary layer defining coated regions and a plurality of uncoated regions;

wherein the article has a wet caliper to dry caliper ratio greater than about 1.4.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the discontinuous coating forms a continuous network.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the unbonded regions of the primary layer each comprise an inscribed circular area, and wherein the diameter of the inscribed circular area is between about 0.1 inch to about 3.0 inch.

15. The article of claim 12, wherein the first and second primary layers comprise a foreshortened cellulosic web.

16. The article of claim 12, wherein the primary layer has a wet extensibility between at least about 4 percent and at least about 25 percent.

17. The article of claim 12, wherein the second primary layer comprises a nonwoven web.

18. The article of claim 12, further comprising a lotion disposed on at least one of the first or second primary layers.