Textured film devices

• US 6,957,924 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: McMeekin, Linda, Dabi, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/503,262
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 401/7, 401/201, 401/261, 401/265, 151/049.3, 151/048.4, 152/091, 152/08, 428/198, 442/402
• US Class Current: 401/201
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/00 Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/02 Bathing sponges, brushes, gloves, or similar cleaning or rubbing implements brushes in general A46B; sponges for domestic cleaning A47L13/16; specially for massage A61H7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/28 Rubbing or scrubbing compositions; Peeling or abrasive compositions; Containing exfoliants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/75 Anti-irritant
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/0208 Tissues; Wipes; Patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/682 Needled nonwoven fabric

Abstract

A textured film device formed from at least one layer of gathered textured film. These devices are capable of producing excellent lather when used with a cleanser and are soft to the touch. Other textured film devices include mitts, gloves, washcloths, and the like formed from at least one layer of textured film.

Also provided are systems comprised of the textured film devices and at least one active material selected from cleansers; moisturizers, conditioners; sunscreens; shaving foams; tanning agents; anti-acne agents; anti-aging agents; anti-irritant agents; perfumes/fragrances; and mixtures thereof.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a. at least one gathered piece of three-dimensional textured film having textured variations; and

b. securing means for substantially permanently holding the at least one gathered piece of textured film together;

wherein said textured film has an open area of no more than about 45%, based upon the total area of the textured film.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the film is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, metallocene polyethylene, and blends and copolymers thereof.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the film has textured variations selected from the group consisting of holes, embossments, and combinations thereof.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the embossments have a depth of about greater than about 0 mm to about 3 mm.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the film contains textured variations in the amount of from about 1.6 textured variations/cm² to about 248 textured variations/cm².

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the film contains textured variations in the amount of from about 80 textured variations/cm² to about 200 textured variations/cm².

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the film contains textured variations in the amount of from about 5.0 textured variations/cm² to about 15 textured variations/cm².

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the film contains textured variations in the approximate shape of a circle, honeycomb, oval, heart, pear, hexagon, square, triangle, pentagon, stellate, rectangle or combination thereof.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the textured film has an open area of greater than about 15% and less than about 35% based upon the total area of the perforated film.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising an inner substrate that is substantially covered by the piece of textured film.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a second sheet of textured film, wherein the inner substrate is disposed between the two outer sheets of textured film.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the inner substrate is a non-sheetlike, three-dimensional body.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a holding means.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the device has a substantially spherical shape.

15. The use of the device of claim 1 as a personal cleansing product.

16. The method of making the device of claim 1 comprising:

a) gathering at least one piece of textured film to produce a desired arrangement of film; and

b) securing the at least one piece of textured film with a securing means.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one piece of textured film is C-folded prior to gathering.

18. A device comprising:

at least one piece of three-dimensional textured film, wherein the device is in the form of a spherical poof, a mitt, a cloth having at least about 1.3 textured variations/cm², a glove, a plurality of textured film appendages attached to a holding means or a textured film pad attached to a holding means;

wherein said textured film has an open area of no more than about 45%, based upon the total area of the textured film.

19. The device of claim 18 in the form of the mitt, the cloth, or the glove, having a first side and a second side, wherein at least one of the sides is comprised of a three-dimensional textured film.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein at least the first side has protuberances facing outward.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the first side and the second side comprise three-dimensional textured films having open areas and the open area of the three-dimensional textured film on the first side is different from the open area of the textured film on the second side.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein at least one side is quilted.

23. A system comprised of:

a) the device of claim 18; and

b) an active material.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of moisturizers, bubble bath compositions, cleansers;

conditioners;

sunscreens;

shaving foams;

tanning agents;

anti-acne agents;

anti-aging agents;

anti-irritant agents;

perfumes/fragrances;

moisturizers and mixtures thereof.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of oatmeal, perfumes/fragrances, cleansers, conditioners and mixtures thereof.

26. The use of the system of claim 23 as a personal cleansing product.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the active material is impregnated into and/or deposited onto the textured film.

28. The system of claim 23 further comprising an enclosure, wherein the active material is inside the enclosure.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the enclosure has walls comprised of water soluble material or water insoluble material.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the water soluble material is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, caroxymethylcellulose, gelatin, and mixtures thereof.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the water insoluble material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidine chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and mixtures and copolymers thereof.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the water insoluble material is dispensed from a valved aperture in the enclosure.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein the enclosure is refillable or replaceable.

34. A method of cleaning the skin comprised of

a) applying a cleanser to the skin and/or to the device of claim 18;

and

b) using the device to create a lather.

35. A method of cleaning the skin comprised of using the device of claim 18 containing a cleanser to create a lather on the skin.

36. A method for treating acne comprised of

a) applying an anti-acne agent to the skin and/or to the device of claim 18;

and

b) using the device to distribute the anti-acne agent.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the anti-acne agent is selected from the group consisting of benzoyl peroxide, retinol, elubiol, antibiotics, salicylic acid, and mixtures thereof.

38. A method for reducing skin irritation comprising:

a) applying an anti-irritant agent to the skin and/or to the device of claim 18; and

b) using the device to distribute the anti-irritant agent.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the anti-irritant agent is selected from the group consisting of oatmeal, dimethicone, white petrolatum, zinc oxide, and combinations thereof.

40. A method for promoting healthy skin comprising:

a) applying an active material to the skin and/or to the device of claim 18; and

b) using the device to distribute the active material.